Majority of Catholic dioceses to run on green energy

A year after Pope Francis called for “swift and unified global action” to protect the environment and reduce global warming in his landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’ , the majority of Catholic dioceses in England and Wales are to switch to renewable energy.

Inter-Diocesan Fuel Management Ltd (IFM) and Churchmarketplace (CMP) have formed a partnership to bring electricity from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, to more than 3,200 parishes in 16 dioceses.

According to a joint statement released by the two companies, the combined buying power of all 16 dioceses has enabled them to source green energy services at an affordable rate.

The organisations claim they will save dioceses a combined total of £180,000 per year compared to other tariffs.

CMP and IFM are hoping the model can be rolled out to Catholic schools, academies and universities in the future.

Cafod, the Catholic aid agency which has been campaigning for action on climate change, welcomed the news. “This commitment to use renewable energy by Catholic dioceses adds strength to a wider movement by religious groups to support a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy,” said Daniel Hale, the agency’s head of campaigns.

 Hundreds of individual Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and other churches in the UK have also committed to switch to renewable energy in the last 12 months.

The six Catholic dioceses yet to sign up to the agreement are Brentwood, Hallam, Hexham and Newcastle, Portsmouth, Southwark and Wrexham. Carol Lawrence, director of IFM, said these dioceses would join the scheme in due course.