Defining Net Zero

Carbon emissions associated with reaching net zero are generally categorised into three types of emissions known as ‘scopes’.

  • Scope 1 emissions are the direct emissions arising from on-site generation of energy in our buildings, vehicles, or land.
  • Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions associated with the use of electricity, heat, steam, and/or cooling.
  • Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions that occur in the day to day running of the church’s operations – in other words the purchased goods and services the church uses, its waste, water use as well as reimbursable work-related travel.

an overview of the scopes of inclusion within the Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030)

For the SEC Net Zero 2023-2030 action plan, we are including all Scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as reimbursable travel from scope 3. This is summarised in the graphic above with the dotted lines representing those emissions that should be addressed by 2030.

You can find a full overview of the scopes of inclusion and the rationale behind this in the Net Zero Action Plan (2023-2030).

You can also watch a short webinar about What is Net Zero 2030? presented by Robert Woodford in December 2022.