The Green Tau

Trinity Sunday

16th June 2025

Reflection with readings below

Trinity Sunday is a celebration of the mystery of God. Human understanding of God is always going to be limited and incomplete because God is always going to be so much more and so much greater than we can imagine or understand. So we should not feel foolish or hopeless if we feel do not understand God as well as the ‘experts’ but at the same time we should not narrow our search for understanding or simply appreciating the character and nature of God.

Trinity Sunday in particular celebrates God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three different but interconnected and united aspects of God. And today’s readings touch in that range and diversity of experiencing God. The readings also show us how integral to and engaged with, is God’s relationship with the Earth. And that points us to the benefit we can gain by studying, by paying attention to the Earth and all that God has created – for that too will enlarge and deepened our understanding of, our relationship with God. We might them reflect that Jesus came to save the world – that is to save not just humans but the whole of creation.

Looking around the world and at the poly crises we face – loss of biodiversity, climate change, conflict, social injustice, depletion of resources – we might reread the passage from Proverbs and realise how we have failed to pay attention to God’s wisdom, how we have failed to understand – and to put into practice – what wisdom has to teach us about living in harmony with all that God has created.

When we look at the conflict in Gaza and in Ukraine, can we reflect how in the natural world (ie the world not dominated by humans) different plants and animals benefit from living alongside each other, thriving together such that successful stable ecosystems are those with the greatest diversity of species. Which is not to deny the predation of some creatures on others, but the overall outcome is one of balance and harmony. But in conflict zones we see humans either wanting to eradicate the other or, motivated by greed, wanting to extract more than their fair share of resources. There is no system in place to help nations and communities understand each other, to value what gifts and skills they have to share, and how by cooperation they might all thrive.

When we look at polluted waters, we see how we as humans have not understood how rivers and seas work, how delicately balanced are their ecosystems, how flooding them with pollutants damages not just life in the water but also the ability of the river or marine ecosystem to protect against floods, droughts and storms. For example, if pollution kills the wildlife – the plants and birds and worms – that create and sustain the mudflats, then the mudflats break down and can no longer absorb excess waters during times of flood, nor protect the land behind during times of storm tides.

Celebrating Trinity Sunday, let us acknowledge God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

“To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.

The Lord created me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of long ago.

Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth–

when he had not yet made earth and fields,
or the world’s first bits of soil.

When he established the heavens, I was there,
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master worker;

and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the human race.”

Psalm 8

1 O Lord our Sovereign, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!

2 Out of the mouths of infants and children *
your majesty is praised above the heavens.

3 You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
to quell the enemy and the avenger.

4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

5 What are humans that you should be mindful of them? *
mortals that you should seek them out?

6 You have made them but little lower than the angels; *
you adorn the, with glory and honour;

7 You give them mastery over the works of your hands; *
you put all things under his feet:

8 All sheep and oxen, *
even the wild beasts of the field,

9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.

10 O Lord our Sovereign, *
how exalted is your Name in all the world!

Romans 5:1-5

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

John 16:12-15

Jesus said to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Tune our senses to God’s wisdom

7th June 2025

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:1-2

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:17

Listen; attune your ears – what do you hear?

The excited chatter of children,

and the chatter of jackdaws,

wind rustling the leaves,

and feet tapping the road.

Or the drone of cars – too much!

Or the whine of planes – too many!

Look; focus your vision – what do you see?

a lacework of branches against the sky,

and curvaceous clouds,

the green patina of leaves,

and the tight curl of a snail shell.

Or traffic crawling bumper to bumper – too much

Or discarded tatters of plastic – too many!

Stretch; bare your skin – what do you feel?

The warm caress of the sun,

the gentle frisson of the breeze,

the prickle of grass,

the textured bark of a tree.

Or the rasp of exhaust in your throat – too much!

Or the scratch of particulates in your eyes – too many!

Sniff; breathe deeply – what do you smell?

The aroma of fresh coffee,

and the zest of orange juice,

the fragrance of the rose,

and the warmth of ground spices.

Or the reek of petrol – too much!

Or the sting of pesticides – too many!

Savour; let it linger on your tongue – what do you taste?

The fresh acidity of an apple,

and the earthy satisfaction of bread,

the squashy sweetness of banana,

and the melting delight of chocolate.

Or the fake sweetness of green wash – too much!

Or the gall of climate injustice- too many !

Merciful God,

bring us to our senses.

Help us rebuild a world

of right experiences.

Amen.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17

Holy God,

in the hour of our stupidity,

guide us with your wisdom.

Help us to understand afresh

the intricacies and interconnectedness

of the world you have given us.

Holy God,

in the hour of our need,

repair the damage we have caused

to your world

so that we might all be saved.

Amen.

Counting on … day 84

13th June 2025

Last year Shell paused work on its biofuel plant in the the Netherlands. This project was to have become one of Europe’s largest biofuel plants producing SAF and renewable diesel. Weak market conditions were apparently to blame (basically a situation where the global supply of biofuels exceeded current demand and producers wouldn’t or couldn’t reduce the prices to boost demand). At the same time BP also paused two biofuel projects in Germany and the U.S. (1)

One question to ask is how can funding be provided for long term projects when companies are focused on short term profits? Is this where governments should step in either with subsidies or with legislation that builds long term certainty around how energy needs are to be met? And if so, who is going to guide government policy – powerful fossil fuel companies or scientists?

Another question is whether alternative biofuels are the right solution for the need to reduce global carbon emissions? And are fossil fuel companies pursuing these alternative fuels that can be used interchangeably with fossil fuels, being used as a way of keeping the market for fossil fuels open?

Here it should be noted that Shell’s CEO, Wael Sawan, has stated that Shell’s current objective is to shift focus from renewables to high-profit oil and gas projects so that Shell can exploit the higher global oil and gas prices that still persist following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (2)

Counting on … day 83

12th June 2025

Diesel – or petroleum diesel – is made from fossil fuels.

Biodiesel is a similar product which is made from plant based oils, animal fats and recycled cooking grease. Once treated using a process of ‘transesterification’ it can be mixed with regular diesel for use in combustion engines – it is not sufficiently similar chemically for use a complete substitute for petroleum diesel.

Renewable diesel or HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is also made from plant and animals based fats, and waste oils using a process called ‘hydrotreating’. This diesel substitute closely mimics regular diesel and can be used as a direct replacement – ‘drop in’ – fuel for combustion engines.(1)

Again the issue that makes the sustainability of renewable diesel questionable is the available supply of plant and animals based fats and waste oil needed in its production. There is a risk that virgin forests in South America and Asia may be cleared to make way for soy and palm oil cultivation – as fuel crops – exacerbating the imbalance of CO2 emissions (virgin forests are net absorbers of carbon dioxide). Equally relying animal based fats (also known as tallow) that come from beef farming adds to the growing trend in deforestation to make way for grass and fodder crops. And, ironically for a product sold as sustainable, when demand for waste oil exceeds supply, the shortfall is made up by substituting virgin plant oil. (2)

Replacing fossil fuel diesel with plant based diesel does not provide a sustainable low carbon solution. Plants and animals are best farmed to provide food and not as a fuel source for energy.

Counting on … day 82

11th June 2025

Biogas is a mixture of methane, CO2 and other gases produced from plant and/or animal material via anaerobic digestion. It comprises between 45-75% methane by volume. Biogas can be used for cooking, heating and for electricity in biogas adapted power stations. Biogas can not as a direct substitute for natural gas. Biomethane on the other hand is nearly 100% methane and can be used to replace natural gas without changing the means of transmission or the end-user’s equipment.(1)

Biomethane is produced by upgrading biogas (ie removing the other gases by various means). Carbon dioxide produced as a byproduct can be used for industrial processes or combined with hydrogen to create more methane. At present biomethane represents about 0.1% of natural gas demand. (1)

The biomaterial used to produce both biogas and biomethane comes from the same sources as for SAF – ie waste material from farms and forestry work, solid municipal/ household waste (including food waste and packaging), recycled cooking fat ( I think MacDonald’s trucks advertise this), animal fat, virgin corn/soy/rapeseed/palm oil, sugar cane and beet, aide and other grains, grasses such as miscanthus, algae etc – and therefore has the same issues around the sufficiency of supply.

Should agricultural land be used to grow crops for provide biofuels or to provide food?

National Grid notes that “UK households, hospitality and food service, food manufacture, retail and wholesale sectors produce around 10 million tonnes of food waste per year. If this was all treated through anaerobic digestion, the industry could generate 11 TWh of biogas – enough to heat 830,000 homes – and cut emissions by 8.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 2% of the UK’s annual emissions.” (2) On the other hand, as 70% of that food waste was edible, would it have been better used feeding people? Equally given that it represents £22billion (3) would it not be better if the waste been avoided in the first place and the money used for home insulation or public transport?

https://www.iea.org/reports/outlook-for-biogas-and-biomethane-prospects-for-organic-growth/an-introduction-to-biogas-and-biomethane

(2) https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-biogas

(3) https://www.wrap.ngo/taking-action/food-drink/actions/action-on-food-waste

Counting on … day 81

10th June 2025

Not only do fossil fuel companies promote their oil and gas as being cleaner on the basis of reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions, they also promote themselves as offering the consumer ‘low carbon products.’ For example this from Shell:-

“Shell Low Carbon Solutions offers products and solutions to help customers in heavy transport and industry reduce emissions and deliver more value. Learn about their low-carbon fuels, carbon credits, CCS, DAC, hydrogen, and how they work with partners in aviation…” (1)

But what are low-carbon fuels? For Shell, low carbon fuels include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), biomethane which is also known as renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable diesel known also as HVO and HEFA.

SAF is a biofuel meaning that it is produced from plant or animal based materials rather than from fossil fuels. SAF is designed to as a ‘drop in’ fuel for aviation is it can be sued in airplanes without any alteration to the plane’s fuel systems and engines. SAF is seen as low carbon because the carbon dioxide emitted in use is what would have been what as the plant/ animal material had absorbed in its life time. There is of course a carbon footprint in producing SAF which means it would cut emissions compared with tradition jet fuel by 80% rather than 100%.

However at the moment SAF only accounts for about 0.1% of total aviation fuel consumption. Whilst scaling up production facilities is part of the issue, the bigger issue is availability of plant and animal material from which to make SAF. The bio materials used including waste material from farms and forestry work, solid municipal/ household waste (including food waste and packaging), used cooking fat, animal fat, corn/soy/rapeseed/palm oil, sugar cane and beet, aide and other grains, grasses such as miscanthus, algae etc.(2) However the supply of such material is at present insufficient to match the demand for aviation fuel and this raises the conundrum that to supply enough plant and animal material, it would be necessary to set divert agricultural land away from growing food to growing aviation fuel.

The Royal Society has made estimates as to how much biomaterial would be needy to meet UK aviation fuel demand. “Used cooking oil in the UK can be utilised to provide 0.3 to 0.6% of the total amount of jet fuel required every year in the UK. The report also calculated that to meet the 12.3 million tonnes of jet fuel per year will require 42.4 million tonnes of rapeseed biomass per year and 68% of UK’s agricultural land. The report suggests that utilising Miscanthus for alcohol-to-jet in the UK will require 10.3 to 6.2 million hectares to meet UK fuel demand.” (3)

Clearly SAF is not in reality a sustainable option. If net zero is a real ambition, then reducing air miles will have to be a major part of the solution.

(3) https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/perspectives/feedstocks-for-a-sustainable-aviation-fuel-industry/

Counting on … day 80

9th June 2025

Last week leading economists from the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics and Political Science, wrote to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

That letter includes the following paragraph re energy security:-

“Maintaining UK fossil production, in contrast, makes little difference to UK energy security; the price of oil and gas is set by the international market, and security is not achieved by modest increases in domestic fossil fuel extraction, such as through the Rosebank oil field. The risks are economic as much as environmental. North Sea oil and gas carry relatively high marginal extraction costs. Such facilities could easily prove uneconomic were the oil and gas price to fall much below present levels as global demand for oil and gas wanes. The government may have to pick up the tab of decommissioning.” (1)

(1) https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2025-06/PM_letter_No_trade_off_between_net_zero_and_economic_growth.pdf

Pentecost

8th June 2025

Reflection with readings below

Pentecost is traditionally seen as the birthday of the Church. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the small band of disciples in the upper room are transfigured into community of missionaries who will preach the gospel to all nations. They are so equipped by the Spirit that they can express the good news in different languages to diverse groups of people.

Overtime (and when we read Acts, really rather quickly) divisions appear in the unity of that community and so I guess we should not be surprised that over the centuries and over the millennia the One Church has splintered into a multiplicity of differing churches, as different people have differed over what is important, what should be included or excluded etc. And even now that there is such diversity, there are still disagreements about what a church should be like, whether it should be traditional or modern, principled or lax. And it is not unusual for individuals to opt out of church altogether because they cannot reconcile what they believe with what they feel the church represents.

Yesterday I was at my local Franciscan area day and our guest speaker was Claire Gilbert, the author of ‘I Julian’. Both Francis of Assisi and Julian of Norwich were inspired to each other have very radically different understandings of God from those presented to them by the Church. For Francis – at a time when the Church was very wealthy and its ministers prince-like in their power – to serve Jesus was to love poverty, rejecting all the trappings and the power that came with wealth and possessions. For Julian – at a time when the Church preached a message of sin and damnation for all who fell short – the overwhelming characteristic of God was love, and only love. There was no wrath in God, no desire to punish or exclude – only love.

But neither Francis nor Julian tried to leave the Church; nor to set up an alternative Church. It was as if they both saw the Church as both human made and therefore frail, and as created by God and therefore good. Both seemed able to sit with this dissonance, to see both what was positive and what was not, and through faith in Jesus as saviour – the one who heals all – to remain faithful to their calling.

So I wonder if we too can joyfully celebrate all that is good about the church – both locally and denominationally – and yet still acknowledge our church’s shortcomings with love and truth?

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs– in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “

Psalm 104:25-35, 37

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea
with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships,
and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath,
and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
Hallelujah!

Romans 8:14-17

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 14:8-27

Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Counting on … day 79

6th June 2025

North Sea oil and gas which, because they are traded on the international market, have their price determined by international rates are there subject to geo-political fluctuations. Even if North Sea oil and gas comes ashore in the UK, it does not offer any price advantages to British consumers.

On the other hand energy from offshore sources of power – wind, wave and tidal – offers the UK, with our extensive coast line, vast amounts of energy at an affordable cost (and with reference to earlier posts this week, the more renewable energy in the power generation mix the greater the opportunity of bringing down the wholesale price). Research from Plymouth University demonstrates the scale of the benefits to be gained from offshore energy:-

the installed capacity of offshore wind has grown from 1 gigawatt in 2010, to over 10 gigawatts in 2020 – powering the equivalent of 4.5 million homes a year
by 2026 offshore wind is likely to provide almost 30 percent of the total UK electricity demand
the UK holds 35 percent of Europe’s wave energy resource and 50 percent of its tidal energy resource, with over 1 gigawatt of leased tidal stream sites and over 40 gigawatt hours of marine energy generated
wave and tidal energy technologies have the potential to provide at least 20 percent of the UK’s annual electricity demand. (1)

Renewable energy – despite what the fossil fuel industry says – is better able to ensure affordable and secure energy ongoing into the future, and in a way that also protects the environment.

https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/institutes/sustainable-earth/sphere/our-energy-transition-the-supergen-offshore-renewable-energy-hub

Counting on … day 78

5th June 2025

Energy security

Interestingly the International Energy Agency was set up in 1074 during the then oil crisis with a mandate to ensure oil security. Since then it has expanded that role to include the security of natural gas, electricity and renewable energy supply chains. These supply chains – as experienced in recent years – are at risk from conflicts, embargoes, adverse weather, terrorism, cyberattack, and failures of national and international grid systems.

Amongst other measures, the IEA requires member countries to hold specific stock levels of oil to mitigate against disruption and spikes in cost. 180 million barrels of oil had to be released when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. That conflict and its impact on both oil prices and the supply and cost of gas, shook many countries as they became acutely aware of their reliance on these energy sources. In response many countries have sought to increase access to locally produced renewable energy.

Developing renewable energies – such as wind, solar and hydro – as well as developing large scale battery storage and enhancing the capacity of the grid are key components in ensuring a secure energy supply. This will become all the more important as the demand for electricity increases. The IEA reported this year that “[b]etween now and 2035, electricity demand is set to grow six times as fast as overall energy demand as a result of factors like the adoption of electric vehicles, air conditioning use, the digitalisation of the economy, the uptake of artificial intelligence and progress on expanding electricity access. Its share in final energy consumption is projected to double by 2050.” (1)

In the energy mix needed to secure this demand the IEA predicts that the use of gas will gradually decrease, whilst solar and wind will play a rapidly increasing role. Whilst oil and gas will be part of the global energy mix going forward, it will be so at a diminishing rate. Long term energy security lies with renewables, and faced with increasing demand for electricity, what is essential in making that increased volume secure, is investment now in the renewables sector – generation, storage and grid capacity.

https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-security