Environment - Care for Creation

Our Common Home

Pope Francis didn't hold back:
'The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.'  

This is God's creation, given to be our home.
What are we doing to look after it?

Jump to:

• A prayer for our Earth
• Care for Creation Committee
• Achievements to Date
• Information and Resources
• Latest News and Updates

A Prayer for our Earth* By Pope Francis

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace​.

* Pope Francis published this prayer in his Laudato Si’ encyclical, and is meant for sharing with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator​.  

Care for Creation Committee

Following divestments in fossil fuels and other environmental commitments, the Archdiocese of Birmingham created a Climate Action Group in September 2021 to drive the Diocese's response to the climate emergency further. In 2023 this became a formal sub committee to the Trustees.

The group is working on behalf of the Archbishop and Trustees. Working closely with other curial departments such as development, property and finance its purpose is:

• To develop and maintain oversight of the Archdiocese’s response to the climate crisis, the Gospel of Life and adherence to the goals of Laudato Si’, aligned to the Diocesan Vision.
• The Care for Creation Committee will create and oversee a strategic plan towards carbon reduction and cultural change. The Committee will set realistic and achievable goals, introduce appropriate measurement of the goals and report on progress to the Board of Trustees.
• The Care for Creation Committee will establish working groups to support with the achievement of the goals outlined in the Care for Creation strategy.

Terms of Reference – Care for Creation Committee

Care for Creation Strategy

• You can contact the Care for Creation Committee directly via [email protected].
• Our Diocesan Environmental Lead is Canon Gerard Murray, Chair of the Birmingham Justice and Peace Commission.
• The Chair of the Care for Creation Committee is Tom Piotrowski, Trustee and Green Party Councillor.
• Our Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance Manager (Property) is Tom Stockwell.

Achievements to Date

Green Fuel Scheme. The Archdiocese of Birmingham committed to utilising green fuel across the Archdiocese. Currently 100% of electric and 59% of the gas supplied to the Archdiocese is generated by renewable sources. Approximately 220 parishes (over 85%) across the Archdiocese of Birmingham are currently involved in the scheme.

Nearly 100% of schools are registered for LiveSimply. Nearly all of our Diocesan schools have registered for CAFOD’s LiveSimply Award, requiring them to plan one substantial action and at least two smaller actions under each of these three headings: living simply, living sustainably and living in solidarity with people who are poor.

• 93 schools have achieved the award (to June 2025)
• 108 schools are registered and working towards their award (to June 2025)

Heat Decarbonisation Plans. The Birmingham Diocesan Education Service (BDES) secured nearly £1m of funding for heat decarbonisation plans. 42 schools’ plans have now been completed- these are very detailed documents and include an action plan and a number of outcomes for schools to help themselves and the environment. 

The BDES is encouraging behavioural change in schools regarding habitually turning lights off and not leaving equipment on standby.

Interdiocesan EV scheme. All clergy and Diocesan staff and their families are offered electric vehicle (EV) leases via the Newgate Cars for Clergy scheme.

Fossil fuel divestment. The Archdiocese of Birmingham has divested from companies which extract fossil fuels, changing its policy to exclude investments in any company which derives more than 5% of its revenues from fossil fuels.