More and more people in our Holy Trinity Brussels community are taking action to look after God’s earth through a wide range of environmental activities such as conservation volunteering and awareness raising, to encourage each other to decrease the negative environmental aspects of our lifestyles. This is motivated by our Christian belief that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24 v1), and that we’re called to act as stewards of God’s creation.

In 2008, Holy Trinity Brussels’ Church Council adopted an Environmental Audit and Action Plan which prioritises the things we can do as a church across most of our activities including: worship and teaching; management of our land and buildings; and community outreach and mission. The idea is to get everyone involved – we’re aiming to do this as a community so that everyone can do their bit, no matter how small. To find out more about what we’re doing, download our HTB Environmental Audit and Action plan here.

If you’re thinking about these issues or trying to make some changes to your lifestyle so it’s more environmentally friendly and need some encouragement from finding out how other people in Brussels are doing this, then you can log on to a blog set up by Toby Godman from our church: http://environmentallychallenged.blogspot.com/

Holy Trinity Brussels also supports the work of A Rocha, a Christian conservation organisation, and you can also go to their website to find out what they’re up to: www.arocha.org. You can also go to A Rocha UK’s Living Lightly website for inspiration on how to live a simpler, greener lifestyle: http://www.livinglightly24-1.org.uk/

If you’re particularly interested in climate change issues and want to find out more about it or would like to calculate your carbon, receive prayer updates or make donations to climate change work, then log on to A Rocha’s Climate Stewards’ website at: http://www.climatestewards.net/

And if you want to get out and about in Brussels and get to know your local area and enjoy nature, it’s well worth getting hold of one of the nature guides written by Denzil Walton from our congregation, which you can order at: http://www.denzil.be/Author.htm Denzil also manages the church bookstall which has a range of books on caring for the environment from a Christian perspective. These include:

• Under the Bright Wings by Peter Harris – The story of the pioneering work of A Rocha in Portugal.
• Kingfisher’s Fire by Peter Harris – The thrilling and challenging story of how A Rocha has grown from one project to an international movement.
• PlanetWise by Dave Bookless – Accessible theology as well as practical lifestyle ideas.
• Cherishing the Earth by Martin & Margot Hodson – A scientist and a pastor share their insight and enthusiasm for a better way of living.
• L is for Lifestyle by Ruth Valerio – A practical and challenging introduction for Christians to ethical living.
• Caring for Creation, Biblical and Theological Perspectives, edited by Sarah Tillett – A range of Christian scientists, biblical scholars and practitioners reflect biblically and share stories from A Rocha’s work around the world.
• Serve God, Save the Planet by J. Matthew Sleeth – A Christian call to practical action.

In addition there are Bible study booklets for private study or use in homegroups.
The bookstall also sells bird nestboxes for 15 EUR, with the profit going to A Rocha. These are a particularly excellent way to encourage young children to take an interest in caring for wild birds in their home gardens.

Finally, it’s good to know we’re not the only church doing environmental activities as the whole Diocese of Europe of which Holy Trinity Brussels is a part, recently adopted an Environmental Policy, which you can read at: http://www.europe.anglican.org/news/newsItems/2008/08_nov_02.html
In fact, the Church of England is more taking action more widely on climate change, with an initiative to cut carbon emissions at: www.shrinkingthefootprint.cofe.anglican.org and initiatives underway with other churches in Europe, see: www.cec-kek.org/content/climatechange.shtml If you want more information or would like to get involved in any of Holy Trinity’s environmental activities then please contact: janice.weatherley@arocha.org

You might also be interested in reading the sermon on the Creation by Revd. Gary Wilton.

Sustainable transport

Holy Trinity Brussels encourages this amongst its members, and there is a growing number of people who use bicycles to come to church - sometimes the cycle parking is very busy !
 
There has been a significant effort in the UK to encourage sustainable transport networks through the Sustrans policies. http://www.sustrans.org.uk/
 
Holy Trinity is situated in the Brussels Region which is currently very active in supporting sustainable transport and mobility, notably by developing public transport and cycle route networks.
Visit http://www.bruxellesmobilite.irisnet.be/ to find out about the latest policies in Brussels.

 Cycling in Brussels 
http://www.bicycle.irisnet.be/index_en.htm
This includes links to downloadable maps of cycle routes through Brussels
http://www.bicycle.irisnet.be/en/cycling_map_en.htm

Sustainability in the home
 
Holy Trinity encourages members to take steps in this direction too.
 
The most developed form of sustainability in the home is the Passive House , but there are a number of intermediate steps to reduce energy consumption in the home.
In Brussels, the IBGE is encouraging such action
http://www.bruxellesenvironnement.be

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