Resources
Find out more about fossil fuel divestment, investment in climate solutions and Church land use, and the tools to help you campaign for change on these issues in your Church or faith institution.
Operation Noah resources
Campaign Reports
Church Investment in Climate Solutions: Financing a Liveable Future (2022) – This report shows how Churches can accelerate a fair and fast transition by investing in climate solutions, such as renewable energy. The report gives examples of Churches and faith institutions taking action to invest in climate solutions and outlines some of the key steps for faith institutions that want to address the climate crisis with their investments.
Church Land and the Climate Crisis: A Call to Action (2022) – This report makes recommendations on ways to reduce and store carbon emissions to one of the country’s largest landowners, the Church of England, which owns approximately 0.5% of the UK’s land. The report is also relevant to other UK Churches and Christian groups, estimated to own another 0.5% of the UK’s land.
Church investments in major oil companies: Paris compliant or Paris defiant? (2020) – The report shows the gap between the business plans of major oil companies and the Paris Agreement targets, and calls on Churches to urgently divest from fossil fuels in response to the climate emergency.
Fossil Free Churches report (2018) – This report highlights the role of the Churches in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. It argues that the speed of transition needs to accelerate rapidly in order to keep global temperature rises in line with the Paris Agreement. The report concludes that Churches should shift their investments away from fossil fuel companies as soon as possible, and reinvest in clean alternatives.
Church of Scotland divestment briefing (2019) – This briefing was produced by Operation Noah, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth Scotland and Eco-congregation Scotland. It sets out how the Church of Scotland can accelerate the just transition to a sustainable future by divesting from fossil fuels and investing in clean alternatives, as part of the Church’s wider response to climate change.
Reflective paper on the ethics of fossil fuels – Bishop David Atkinson asks how the Church of England should decide whether investments in fossil fuels are ethical.
Campaign tools
Divest your church (PDF) – A how to guide for local churches on divesting from fossil fuels and reinvesting for a brighter future. Printed copies can be requested.
Church of England divestment listening group resources – Agenda, presentation and feedback form for leaders of listening group meetings on Church of England investments in fossil fuels
Church of England Divestment Guide – A resource on how local churches, dioceses and the national church can divest from fossil fuels.
Catholic Divestment Guide – A resource on how campaigners can encourage dioceses and the national bishops conference of England and Wales to divest from fossil fuels.
Church investment in climate solutions leaflet – A resource on how campaigners can encourage their Churches and faith institutions to invest in climate solutions, such as renewable energy.
Church land use leaflet – A resource on how campaigners can engage with the Church of England on land use that is good for people, nature and the climate.
Role play – A thought-provoking role play for use with groups.
Bible study – Biblical texts and teachings relevant to divestment.
- For general resources for churches on climate change, see the Resources page on the Operation Noah website.
Other resources
Film clips
- An introduction to the DivestInvest movement DivestInvest
- Fossil fuel divestment: a financially prudent choice? DivestInvest
- For the Love of Our Planet: Fossil Free Future Isaac Harvey, URC Youth
- Laudato Si’ and religious life Fr Martin Poulsom SDB
- Laudato Si’ and divestment in Ireland Dr Lorna Gold
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu on divestment
- Fossil Free Tour event in London (full recording)
- Do the Math 350.org
Other campaigns on divestment
- Fossil Free
The fossil free campaign from 350.org with background information and resources for religious institutions. - DivestInvest
Global network of investors divesting from fossil fuels and investing in climate solutions. - Global Catholic Climate Movement
Organisation working with Catholic institutions on climate change and fossil fuel divestment - People & Planet’s Fossil Free campaign
The student-led fossil free campaign focusing on divestment by UK universities and colleges - Medact’s Fossil Free Health campaign
A campaign run jointly by Medact and Healthy Planet UK calling on the UK health community to divest from fossil fuels.
Church investment information
- Church of England: Ethical Investment Advisory Group
The EIAG advises the Church of England’s national investment bodies on ethical investment policies. - Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church
The CFB provides professional investment management for organisations within Methodism. - Quakers in Britain Sustainability programme
Quakers in Britain were the first Church in Britain to divest its centrally held money from fossil fuels. - Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility
ECCR leads and collaborates with others in advocacy and awareness-raising on issues of business, human rights and environmental stewardship. - Your Faith, Your Finance
Useful resource on money, faith and ethics. Includes section on ‘Influencing your church’s investments’, with information for different denominations.
Church statements on climate change
- Church of England National Investing Bodies’ climate change policy The latest policy of the Church of England’s National Investing Bodies on climate change.
- Church of England Environment Programme The Church of England’s national environmental campaign.
- Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church Policy statements of the Central Finance Board on ethical investment.
- Hope in God’s Future A report and study guide from the Baptist Union, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church.
- Quakers in Britain Commitments on sustainability on the Quakers’ website.
- Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales ‘Guardians of God’s Creation: Educating towards a Christian Spiritual of Ecology’.
Church case studies
- United Reformed Church (UK)
- Quakers in Britain (also here)
- Church of Ireland
- Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
- Church of Sweden
- Anglican Church of Southern Africa
