The National Church's environmental policy
Our Skálholtsjörður and the consecration bishop's message
Land users in Skálholt are based on the environmental policy of the National Church. Work is underway to restore wetlands in Skálholt. A forest is grown for carbon neutralization in collaboration with Skógrækt ríkisns and Kolvið ehf. in the northernmost part of Skálholtsjáðir. The country's parishes plant trees in Helgilund, which is a carbon offset for the activity of the respective parish. Skálholt's heat supply from Þorlákshver is a sustainable source of energy. There are charging stations for electric cars in Skálholt. Efforts are made to source ingredients for cooking in the vicinity of Skálholt and grow cabbage and herbs in Skálholt.
We are constantly working on a stimulating debate on environmental issues and an international conference has been held on the role of religious movements in environmental protection and responses to the global climate crisis, including with the participation of UNEP, the United Nations Environment Agency.
With the preaching of the gospel about Jesus Christ and his love and our hope in God, the message of the consecrating bishop, Rev. Kristjáns Björnsson, to promote awareness of peace, reconciliation and environmental issues and especially to remind Christians of their responsibility towards global warming, ocean acidification, the plight of refugees, threats to human rights, the uneven distribution of the earth's wealth and the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
The National Church's environmental policy
Science has proven that humanity is facing a climate threat that threatens the Earth's biosphere and ecosystems and puts the fate of future generations in doubt. Poor people in peripheral regions, indigenous peoples in polar regions and inhabitants of coastal and low-lying islands are already struggling with the consequences of climate change. Failure in the coming decades to bring about the transformation called for by the Paris Agreement of nations in 2015 will lead to disaster around the world. This problem is a moral issue that concerns everyone. The Ecumenical Council and the Lutheran World Federation have taken climate issues to heart for three decades. The Icelandic National Church is a party to their policy, which states that the land is not for sale. It contains a challenge to congregations and church leaders to proclaim peace with the earth, a moderate lifestyle and a fair distribution of the earth's resources. There is also an encouragement to faithfulness to the church's prophetic calling to point out injustice, inequality, social distress and natural damage caused by man. Life and all existence is God's creation. Life is sacred and has its own value. Man is part of nature, but not above it. She also has a special responsibility due to her position in God's creation according to the Judeo-Christian tradition. With that responsibility comes the moral obligation to care for all life. Humanity's role is to cultivate the earth, protect and nourish it, and use its quality with care and respect, guided by sustainability.
The motto of the national church is:
Praying, preaching, serving.
We pray that everyone who lives in Iceland will become aware of the need to transform the way of life so that goals in climate matters and nature conservation are achieved.
We promote a way of life that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, energy and food waste, and the use of harmful packaging.
We serve nature in the best possible way for everyone's benefit, among other things through the restoration of wetlands, forestry, land planting and the ecological activities of the church's congregations. We who work in the church want to join hands with other movements and individuals who care about nature conservation and the fight against climate change. A concerted effort and public support is needed in order to compel companies and governments to meet goals in climate matters and nature conservation. The church is concerned about nature conservation and shows in word and deed that it takes climate issues seriously. The church council and the church's environmental committee are tasked with following up the environmental policy with an action and work plan that is funded. The goal is to make professionals and the congregation think about nature and nature conservation, provide them with resources to prevent further climate change and to contribute.