On 12 February 2020, the General Synod voted to commit the Church of England to net zero carbon by 2030. Two years later, in July 2022, Synod endorsed the Net Zero Carbon Routemap to get there, backed by £190 million of central funding. That target covers every parish church, cathedral and diocesan building. It is ambitious, it is official, and most PCCs are still working out what it means for them in practice.
This guide explains the routemap in plain English, highlights what a PCC is actually expected to do, and shows where heating fits in.
What the routemap says
The routemap sets out a phased path to net zero for the whole church. It does not require every parish to hit zero emissions overnight. Instead it asks for measurable progress along a defined route:
Understand your footprint. Every parish is asked to complete the Energy Footprint Tool each year, reporting gas and electricity use. This gives the diocese and the national church a picture of where emissions are concentrated.
Take the quick wins. Switch to a 100% renewable electricity tariff. Improve lighting. Draught-proof doors and windows. These are low-cost steps that any PCC can take without a faculty.
Plan the big moves. For most churches, the single biggest source of carbon is heating. The routemap expects parishes to have a plan for decarbonising their heating, even if the capital project is years away.
Invest in long-term change. Replace fossil fuel heating with an all-electric or low-carbon alternative. Add insulation where the building allows. Consider on-site renewable generation such as solar PV on a church hall roof.
Where heating fits in
Heating accounts for roughly 84% of a typical church building's carbon emissions. A parish church burning gas to heat a large, draughty nave produces nearly all of its carbon footprint from that one system. Everything else, the lighting, the office, the church hall kitchen, is a rounding error by comparison.
That is why the routemap treats heating as the decisive step. A church that switches from gas to a fully electric heating system, powered by a renewable tariff, can cut its carbon footprint dramatically in one move. The routemap does not prescribe a technology, but it does make clear that the direction of travel is away from fossil fuels.
What a PCC should do now
The routemap does not expect you to find £30,000 next month. It expects you to start, and to show progress.
This year:
- Complete the Energy Footprint Tool if you have not already
- Switch to a 100% renewable electricity tariff
- Read the Practical Path to Net Zero Carbon for Churches for ten straightforward first steps
- Register for Eco Church if your PCC is interested in a structured programme
Next 12 months:
- Get your gas and electricity bills for the last two years and work out your annual consumption in kilowatt-hours
- Talk to your Diocesan Environment Officer about their net zero support programme
- Commission a heating survey if your current system is reaching end of life
When your heating needs replacing:
- Consider the full range of options, including infrared radiant heating, heat pumps and underfloor systems
- Factor in running costs and carbon, not just capital cost
- Check what grants are available; several funding streams specifically support decarbonisation
- Talk to your DAC early, before you commit to a system
The role of the diocese
You are not expected to do this alone. Most dioceses now have a dedicated environment or net zero officer who can help you plan the route, point you to funding and connect you with other churches that have already made the switch. Your DAC secretary is another early conversation; they will tell you what faculty process applies and what the committee will want to see.
The ChurchCare heating guidance is the Church of England's own hub for heating advice, covering principles, options appraisals, permissions and common pitfalls. It is worth reading before you commission a survey.
The bottom line
The 2030 target is not optional for CofE churches. It is a formal commitment of the General Synod. But the route to get there is flexible, phased and supported. Heating is the single largest step most churches can take. If your current system is old, expensive to run or due for replacement, the net zero routemap gives you a strong reason to choose an all-electric alternative now rather than replacing like for like.