St. Michael Church also known as the Mahim Church is one of the oldest places of worship in Mumbai. It is on its way to become carbon neutral and the first church in India to do so. Carbon neutrality involves calculating the church’s carbon footprint and finding ways to make this footprint zero to reduce global warming.
Initiated in 2018, St Michaels Church had incorporated six environmental initiatives in its activities. They are solar panels, solar water heaters, energy efficient lights and fans, composting of organic waste, biogas from flower waste, and greening the church area.
The Mahim church’s decision to become carbon neutral is significant in view of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP). It is to achieve neutrality by 2050—twenty years ahead of India.
The church’s carbon footprint for 2021 was calculated at 44 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. “The figure is a small amount by world standards, but our effort to reduce this to zero is a big step,” noted Fr. Lancy Pinto, the Parish Priest of St. Michael church.
The church plans to expand its solar capacity by another 10 or 20 kilowatts per hour to achieve net zero emissions. The church and the attached school have a large terrace for installation of solar panels.