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Contents
General Nanotechnologies Climate Change Eco-Congregation and Environment Energy Policy Stem Cells Report (separate document) |
7.2.2 Report: Stem Cells
A major report has been produced on Stem Cells, the Full Version of which is available separately. The Summary Report forms part of the Church and Society Council's report to the Assembly as Appendix 3.
7.3 Nanotechnologies
7.3.1 SRT's work in emerging new areas of science is well illustrated in the field of nanotechnologies. These are a diverse range of application sciences at the very smallest scale, to perform complex tasks by devices constructed on the scale of molecules. Some have called this the next technological revolution. At the moment much of its most far-reaching potential is still at the level of scientific exploration but already a few applications are beginning to emerge. There has been little serious ethical reflection. Growing out of its previous work with GM crops, cloning and stem cells, SRT has had the opportunity to be involved in the first ethical assessment of the potential applications of nanotechnology to human medicine and biotechnology, known as nanobiotechnology.
7.3.2 Dr Bruce has joined the ethical advisory board of the first European scientific programme called Nano2Life, for whose annual scientific meeting he drafted a scoping paper on ethical issues in March 2005. The paper examined not only some potential issues but also the world views which might drive the emerging technologies in different and not necessarily welcome directions, depending upon who holds power. It was very well received and has generated several further articles, as well as invitations to speak at international conferences, including the EuroNanoForum meeting in Edinburgh in September. This has led in turn to SRT winning European Commission funding for an ethical study on nanotechnology and human enhancement over the next two years, as part of the NanoBioRAISE research programme. The Council regards this as a landmark event for the church and a measure of the respect which the Project has won in Europe.
7.4 Climate Change and Energy
7.4.1 In May 2005 SRT assisted in preparation for events around the G8 summit by holding a briefing seminar on climate change and energy policy in Edinburgh for the UK churches environmental network. This preparation also involved speaking engagements in churches in Auchterarder and Dunfermline, and at a special election meeting with candidate MPs in Edinburgh.
7.4.2 The call to acknowledge the message from the world's scientific academies that the threat of climate change is real, increasing and is in large part caused by human action, was delivered to the world's leaders at and since the summit. SRT assisted with letters on this from the Basel Assembly of the European Christian Environment Network, the Conference of European Churches, the Environmental Issues Network of CTBI, and from evangelical leaders in Scotland. These letters urged a programme of immediate action for emission reduction well beyond the Kyoto targets, and financial commitments for adaptation measures for developing countries which stand to suffer most. The final communiqué from the G8 was disappointing on climate change because of the continuing attitude of the US Administration, but more hopeful signs have come from the Montreal meeting to work towards a post-Kyoto strategy. Energy issues are also dealt with under section 2.2.
7.5 Eco-Congregation
7.5.1 Eco-Congregation aims to encourage churches and their members to celebrate the gift of creation and care for it in appropriate practical and spiritual ways. It is run by SRT in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful. The past year began in celebration, when 200 people from churches, environmental organisations, and government gathered in Dunblane Cathedral for a very successful day of worship, workshops, inspiration and commitment. The ecumenical project has seen a steady rise in participation, with over 100 registered churches, 26 award winners and many more becoming involved. Increasingly, too, the churches are promoting the programme themselves, working together to exchange information, organise joint activities, and even engage with government.
7.5.2 Eight Church of Scotland congregations received awards in the past year in recognition of the dozens of projects they undertook. Amongst others, Dunscore in Ayrshire worked with the school, community shop and community council on environmental issues. Knightsridge in Livingston created a colourful butterfly garden in an area of waste ground beside a public path. Stockbridge in Edinburgh supports community organisations by recycling through their charity shop. Members of Cupar Old climbed up into their church roof space to put down insulation.
7.5.3 A further three-year grant is being sought from the Scottish Executive Sustainable Action Grant, to develop Eco-Congregation on the basis of regional networks, which will devolve the co-ordination and promotion of the programme in the long-term to the local level. Churches in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth are already holding regular meetings to exchange ideas, news and information on recycling, energy saving, climate change, fair trade, and other issues. Networks like these across Scotland and throughout the church will ensure the momentum begun is carried into the future. Eco-Congregation has been commended for its delivery of a grassroots response in a major sector of the Scottish population, in line with the new Scottish Sustainable Development Strategy.
7.6.2 One aspect of this call was taken up by the Environmental Issues Network (EIN) of CTBI. EIN is asking churches to 'let the earth be glad' by designating an annual occasion to give church life an ecological focus. Our understanding of nature touches on our understanding of God, our sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, our work for justice, our church life and daily discipleship. By giving the natural world a regular place in our calendar we have a chance to make all these links. Two occasions are particularly appropriate: Environment Sunday (first Sunday in June or nearest suitable Sunday) when there is no better time for outdoor worship and activities, and many environment organisations are holding local activities; and "creationtide" (1 September to mid-October), which allows an extended period for churches to give worship and teaching an ecological flavour and engage in environmental projects.
2.2 Energy Policy
2.2.1 During 2005, the implications of the UK's energy policy gained increasing media attention. The 2003 White Paper - which set out the detail of Government thinking at that time - can best be summarised in terms of developing further renewable energy sources and making substantial improvements in energy efficiency (hence tackling fuel poverty), while developing sound and secure markets and transmission infrastructure to allow greater use of imported natural gas as the UK's reserves decline. The question of nuclear energy and its future in the UK would await deliberations on waste disposal options pending the success of other policy. By this means the aim would be to set the UK on the path of achieving substantial carbon dioxide emission reductions, addressing fuel poverty and delivering secure energy supplies.
2.2.2 However, since the publication of the White Paper a number of factors have led to calls for the policy to be revisited. The number and scale of wind farm developments, particularly in Scotland, has led to significant levels of public opposition to many projects and to the network infrastructure necessary to connect them; rising international gas prices have undone many of the gains made in addressing fuel poverty, and a more rapid than anticipated increase in our dependence on gas imports has raised fears on supply security; increased use of more stable and cheaper coal supplies has led to increases rather than any decrease in carbon dioxide emissions; and finally, the nuclear power stations, which supply 30% of UK needs (over 50% in the case of Scotland) are now closer to the end of their useful lives (all but one are expected to cease operations before 2020 and it is projected that to secure planning consent and construct replacements would take at least ten years). A review of the White Paper has therefore been announced with the outcome expected by summer 2006.
2.2.3 Independent work by respected bodies such as the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and the Tyndall Centre identify that a number of options would enable the UK to secure electricity supplies and to address global climate change - these range from extensive new nuclear build, development of coal or gas fired plant with carbon dioxide capture and storage, to widespread deployment of renewable energy sources. In all cases high take-up of energy efficiency would aid the path. Reviews of the costs of these options - depending on market design - indicate that within the levels of uncertainty no one option is clearly more cost effective than any other. The energy policy question therefore is not simply a matter of technology options or economic efficiency - rather one of ethical choice. How do we value the impact of renewable projects on the landscape; should we reject nuclear power (and coal or gas with carbon capture) on the basis that these will leave wastes and residues in storage for future generations; should we adopt an insular approach to energy policy or adopt (possibly involving more risk) one which builds political stability through international trading links; and can we depend on national and UK markets to deliver such a mix of economic, political, environmental and social aims?
2.2.4 The Council has asked a Working Group convened by Fred Dinning to keep these matters under ongoing review. SRT, with input from its Advisory Committee, will help support the working group, considering the interplay between the technical, economic and ethical issues of energy policy with a view to making a Christian contribution to the 2006 Energy Review and the Scottish Climate Change Programme (and climate change is also discussed at 7.4). We expect that the Group will produce various papers on these matters as the months go by, including a response to the current government consultation on energy policy. The Council will gather these together in a report to the 2007 General Assembly.
Stem Cell Research
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