God Save The Greens
By Ceri Harrop
As the threat of global warming grows ever more fearsome, the Church of Norway has set about its own crusade: cycling to church to pray for the environment.Global warming, a gradual increase in the temperature of the planet due to human factors, is now a well-documented and generally accepted theory. We know it happens and we know what causes it: burning fossil fuels to produce electricity and petrol for the inevitable drive to and from work or school; as well as fuel for those all-important evils, planes, taking us on our annual pilgrimages to warmer climes.
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So we’ve heard it all before, right? And in the grand scheme of things, what on Earth are we mere mortals, supposed to do about it?
Setting the benchmark is the Church of Norway, which has taken it upon itself to help Norway realise its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2050. How? By holding special prayers for the environment.
Not only that; bike racks have been fitted outside its churches, and the congregation will be needing an extra layer - thermostats have been turned down in an attempt to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
As if to cement their support for the cause, four pastors cycled 300 miles of hilly roads from Bergen to Oslo in an attempt to encourage employers to financially support those who cycle to work in the same way they subsidise car travel. A good effort in favour of a notably worthy cause. After all, one must lead by example. And who better to set the example than clergymen, whose vocation is to influence people’s lives for the better?
But despite its best efforts, Norway’s mission to become carbon neutral faces a few stumbling blocks. Aside from the fact that it is the world’s third largest exporter of oil, Norway is currently developing a major gas field 1200m deep into the North Sea, which will make it Europe’s number one gas supplier.
And there’s just one more thing: part of the funds of the Church of Norway are invested in, ahem, oil companies and, er, airlines.
Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African cleric and activist will, however, raise his thoughts, opinions and prayers in a mass for the climate on June 3rd in Tromso, Norway. How will he travel there? By bicycle? Somehow I doubt it. The age-old saying “practise what you preach” springs to mind…
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Image: Charlie Balch
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