A084 HD Committee #15 Report #15

House of Deputies Committee 15 - Environmental Stewardship & Care of Creation presents its Report #15 on Resolution A084 (Join The Communion Forest Initiative) and moves:

Concur

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention, endorse in support of the Anglican Consultative Council Council's Communion Forest resolution, number 5.c., passed at ACC 18 in Ghana in February 2023, the text of which reads:

The Anglican Consultative Council:

1. recognises that the integrity of creation is under threat and at risk of collapse; and there is urgent need to reduce our carbon footprint and protect biodiversity;

2. affirms the potential of the Communion Forest initiative launched as a legacy of the 2022 Lambeth Conference;

3. invites Churches of the Communion to join in this initiative to be ambitious in using their God-given assets; to weave creation care into the spiritual and liturgical life of the Church; and

4. commends the collaboration of the Anglican Alliance and Anglican Communion Environmental Network, and encourages Churches of the Communion to share with them information about their existing and new activities. And be it further

recognizes that the integrity of creation is under threat and at risk of collapse and there is urgent need to reduce our carbon footprint and protect biodiversity; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church affirms the potential of the Communion Forest initiative launched as a legacy of the 2022 Lambeth Conference; and be it further

Resolved, That the Episcopal Church join with other Churches of the Communion to join in this initiative to be ambitious in using their God-given assets, to weave creation care into the spiritual and liturgical life of the Church; and be it further

Resolved, That General Convention commends the collaboration of the Anglican Alliance and Anglican Communion Environmental Network, and encourages the dioceses, seminaries, congregations and other ministries in the Episcopal Church to share with them information about their existing and new activities.

Resolved, That General Convention urge its Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations and other institutions of The Episcopal Church (TEC), as well as members of TEC, to undertake appropriate projects in support of the Communion Forest initiative, efforts that may include:

Placement of conservation easements on land, forests, wetlands, and waters to protect biodiversity and to prevent additional emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane;

Planting and protection of trees to conserve soil, improve biodiversity, and sequester carbon;

Protect marginal and indigenous communities from exploitation and displacement arising from resource extraction projects;

Join with other TEC institutions and with other faith communities in these efforts;

And such other efforts to reduce emissions, protect biodiversity, and protect people whose homes, health, and livelihoods may be threatened by unwise resource extraction projects, as may best fit the circumstances.