The Church of England’s General Synod has voted overwhelmingly to step up its Environmental Programme in response to the escalating threat of climate change.

It has called on every diocese to put in place an environmental programme overseen by a member of diocesan staff.

The church will explore the development of a standardised for measuring its carbon footprint from its buildings and work towards greater communication and peer review between dioceses.

The Church of England has three dioceses in Yorkshire – York, Sheffield and Leeds.