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<p>The Church Commissioners are committed to reducing the carbon intensity of their
portfolio by 2025 and, as a member of the Asset Owners Alliance, reaching ‘Net Zero’
in the investment portfolio by 2050.</p><p>The General Synod has set a target for
the Church of England to become Net Zero by 2030. The National Church Institutions
are supporting every diocese with a grant to grow capacity and employ staff to manage
the work of achieving this net zero ambition. The Church Commissioners have committed
funding of £30m for 2023-25 and £190m total for a 9-year programme from 2023-31. <br>
<br>Stage one will explore the best ways to decarbonise the diverse range of buildings
and navigate planning and governance structures. The project will assess cathedrals
and clergy housing, with demonstration churches that can act as showpieces of what
is possible. There will be a special grant available from dioceses to enable churches
to fund improvements to their energy efficiency.</p><p>A second workstream supports
schools in accessing public sector decarbonisation funds, and another stream of grants
will match local fundraising in churches for net-zero carbon projects through the
Buildings for Mission scheme</p><p>This will provide a clear picture of the kinds
of projects that are effective in reducing emissions, ready for a scaled-up investment
in the second 3-year period</p><p>Recent success stories include York Minster and
the Chapel at Kings College, Cambridge, which have joined many other major churches
and cathedrals across the country in installing new solar panels and renewable technologies,
reducing their running costs and making them more sustainable buildings.</p>
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