Items

• The Poverty of Global Climate Change

  "Global climate change poses one of the greatest threats to the most vulnerable among us, especially people in poverty. The impoverished and vulnerable do not have the economic and technological resources to adapt to the expected impacts of climate change. Heat waves, droughts, storms, and consequent economic costs fall most heavily upon those in poverty. Addressing climate change must involve addressing the plight of those in poverty to be successful, while addressing poverty must involve environmental sustainability to be a long-term solution."
• Earth Day Action Toolkit

  "Every April 22nd, stakeholders of all backgrounds come together to advance sustainability and climate action in commemoration of Earth Day. Our world needs transformation. It’s time for the people of the world to hold governments and the private sector accountable for their role in our environmental crisis while also calling for bold, creative, and innovative solutions. This will require action at all levels, from business and investment to city and national government. That’s where you come in: as an individual, you yield real power for change through your influence as a consumer, a voter, and a community member. Don’t underestimate your power. When your voice and actions are united with millions of others around the world, we can create an inclusive and impactful movement that is impossible to ignore. Throughout April, we commemorate Earth Month with marches, rallies, volunteer events, and more. United together, we’ll drive a year of energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to a sustainable and equitable future for our planet."
• Earth Day: Faith & the Environment

  "Since the first Earth Day in 1970, incredible environmental goals have been achieved, thanks largely to efforts by people of faith. The global faith community is a critical voice in overcoming obstacles and integrating environmental issues into political, social and economic agendas... Below are EARTHDAY.ORG’s Invest in Our Planet campaigns, as well as resources linking environmental stewardship and faith. We always strive to update and improve our resources. If you know of environmental or faith-based resources, email us at partnerships@earthday.org."
• Inflation Reduction Act Resources to Help You Electrify Your Home

  "The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest climate and clean energy investment America has ever made, with strategic incentives to make the transition to clean energy and a decarbonized life easy, financially smart, and equitable. It created programs to help you go electric — swapping out your old, fossil-fueled appliances for new, clean electric ones — over the next ten years. The IRA’s home energy offerings include upfront discounts, tax credits, and low-cost financing that together provide a substantial pot of money for every household to electrify the machines they rely on — the cars they drive, how they heat the air and water in their homes, cook their food, dry their clothes and get their power — regardless of income level. Much of the solution to the climate crisis is just doing two things: getting all the carbon out of our electricity supply, and then electrifying everything we can. As people of faith and conscience, shifting our household energy use to efficient technologies that use renewable energy is an opportunity to help bring about climate justice based on our shared values: caring for one another and our common home. Jamal Lewis, Director of Policy Partnerships and Equitable Electrification for Rewiring America, joins us for a conversation on electrification, what it looks like, and what federal resources are available to help you do it. Join us to learn more about the incentives that will be available to help make your home healthier and more efficient."
• Saving India’s Rivers: Ecology, Civil Society, Religion, and Legal Personhood

  "Abstract: In recent decades, India’s environment has been severely compromised by riverine pollution combined with large-scale dams and exacerbated by diversion for irrigation. Most prominent among the rivers so affected has been the Ganges and its tributaries in northern India, which for Hindus include the country’s most sacred bodies of water. This paper examines three campaigns opposing dam construction, arguably the most widely publicized and analyzed efforts of this kind since independence in 1947. One campaign was essentially secular with virtually no religious component, the second mostly secular with some religious support, and the third almost totally a religious initiative. In the end, only the third attained any real success, and that rested on circumstances unlikely to be replicated. The possibility that future campaigns of this scale can be taken up again appears remote. Meanwhile, riverine pollution has continued to increase everywhere despite massive governmental programs to reduce it. Theoretically, it would seem that environmentalists and Hindu devotees with their veneration of nature should be able to work in common cause to reduce pollution, but any large-scale cooperation seems unlikely between these two disparate realms. More recently an effort to protect rivers by endowing them with legal personhood enjoyed an initial success, holding the promise that lawsuits could be brought on behalf of a river against those polluting it. The paper concludes that while the legal personhood strategy is currently stalled, it offers the best chance for eventual success in attenuating riverine pollution. In the course of the paper, a comparative theoretical framework for assessing anti-dam protests will be tested."
• The Rita Summit: Resilience In The Anthropocene

  "We invite you to join us for a 3-day FREE online summit hosted by the Loka Initiative that brings together researchers, academics, experts from communities most impacted by environmental devastation and climate change, clinical psychology practitioners, and contemplative leaders to discuss eco-anxiety and climate distress within a framework of inner, community, and planetary resilience. Speakers: Helen Adams Carmen Alonso Yuria Celidwen Dekila Chungyalpa Susan Clayton Leslie Davenport Richard Davidson Elissa Epel Adrienne Hampton Rev. Fletcher Harper Kyle X Hill Tisha Holmes Sará King Diana Liverman Dominique Malebranche Brian McInnes Damaris Miller Jyoti Mishra Musonda Mumba Tamara Toles O’Laughlin Lama Rod Owens Jacqui Patterson Rev. Bobbi Patterson Panu Pihkala Mingyur Rinpoche Beth Sawin LaUra Schmidt Farhana Sultana Mary Evelyn Tucker Jennifer Uchendu Christy Wilson-Mendenhall"
• Trees of the Bible

  "What does the Bible have to say about trees? A lot, actually. In this guide, we explore nine trees of significance in Scripture to better understand the context of the passages and our relationship with the Creator (of trees and people)."
• Creation and Climate Care Zine

  "If I want to talk to my church about climate change, where do I begin? How does climate affect migration today? Why is climate justice also racial justice? In what ways can I take real climate action on my own, and with my community? If you’ve ever wondered about any of these things, we’ve got you covered, friend. We're proud to present the story of creation care and climate justice…all wrapped up in doodle-filled, colorful, action-packed CREATION & CLIMATE CARE ZINE. This new resource is an easy and engaging way to learn, to jumpstart conversations on climate change, and finally to act together in order to heal and protect our common home -- whether you live in Texas or New York, whether you’re 13 or 83 or anywhere in between."
• 2023 Catholic Youth Climate Summit

  "In February 2023 we hosted, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago and youth leaders, a Catholic Youth Climate Summit. Check out this video from the summit and hear why youth care about the climate crisis and how they connect their faith with climate action. Thank you to all of our students leaders for putting together this great event for their fellow students!"
• Catholic Social Teaching and Humane Education

  "A discussion surrounding the challenges educators, parents, and supporters of animal welfare face in teaching compassion to children. This event will be held at Fordham Lincoln Center (113 W 60th Street, Manhattan, NY, 10023) for in person folks, with a Zoom option. Specific room information or a Zoom link will be sent out the week prior to the conference."
• Climate Action After High School: A Community Conversation

  "Catholic Climate Covenant is hosting a community conversation for recent high school grads looking to be involved in climate action efforts on their college campus and beyond. Hear from current college students and virtually meet other recent high school graduates involved in faith-based climate justice efforts. Email Kayla Jacobs at kayla@catholicclimatecovenant.org or Diana Marin at diana@catholicclimatecovenant.org with any questions."
• A Service of Celebration: Celebrating 40 Years of Creation Justice Ministries

  This event is "A Service of Celebration" in honor of the 40th anniversary of Creation Justice Ministries. There will be preaching, music, an offering, and a reception. "The service will also be livestreamed. The link will be sent to registrants closer to the date. While there is no charge to attend, we ask you to register in advance. Following the Service of Celebration, we will host a reception for everyone in attendance. We look forward to sharing fellowship with you all. Stay tuned for more information about refreshments and activities."
• Torah of the Vine

  "The holiday of Tu B'Av is often considered the 'Jewish valentines day' but it also has some pretty cool agricultural roots. At this time of year, the ancient Israelites were in the heat of the grape harvest. It was SUPER hot during the day so they would take advantage of the bright, full moon of Av to go out as a community and harvest the grapes together! Join teacher, farmer, author, and artist Rabbi Psachyah Lichtenstein, Director of Jewish Learning at Adamah to dig into what our sages and ancestors had to say about cultivating grapes. Sliding scale $9 - $36"
• Jewish Earth Alliance Tisha B'Av Virtual Lobby Days

  "Get ready to meet your Members of Congress on Tues and Wed July 25th and 26th, 2023, just before Tisha B'Av. No experience required. We're scheduling convenient virtual half-hour meetings with your Members of Congress, so please register below. You can do this from wherever you are so don't worry if you are traveling."
• Tisha B'Av Renewed for Temple Earth

  "To start with what is new yet ancient: The Shalom Center welcomes you to the sad obligation to mourn for the continuing destruction of our universal Temple Earth, just days before Tisha B’Av, and to bring active hope to protect and heal the universal Temple of all life on Earth. We will gather by Zoom at 7:30pm Eastern on Sunday, July 23, to hear chants in English, created as a 'Lament for Earth' by Moving Tradition’s Rabbi Tamara Cohen, newly honored by the Covenant Foundation for her innovative work in Jewish education; suggestions for action to protect Temple Earth by The Shalom Center’s Rabbi Arthur Waskow; reflections on the unique role Jews have in showing up for climate justice by Jewish Youth Climate Movement’s Madeline Canfield; songs and teachings of hope and determination by Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA)’s Joelle Novey; and a call for specific pre-Tisha B’Av actions by Jewish Earth Alliance’s Dr. Mirele Goldsmith. A complete list of organizational co-sponsors and full speaker biographies can be found below the registration form at the bottom of this page."
• Religions of the World and Ecology

  "Enroll in these free self-paced courses from Yale University and Coursera to explore the answers to these questions and experience the rich ecological teachings and dynamic practices of religious traditions across our planet Earth."
• The Black Church & the Environmental Age

  This course, created by Green the Church, aims to help people learn about the relationship of Black Churches and their congregations with the environmental movement. It discusses environmental issues specific to Black communities and how Black Churches can be involved and mobilize around them.
• Climate Pastoral Care Course

  "Faith communities are equipped with their own traditions and tools that can help us face the climate emergency. Learn more about the physical, emotional, mental health, and spiritual impacts of the climate crisis and how to address them through the practice of pastoral care in this new thirteen-module course."
• At Catholic climate conference, Paris Agreement architect challenges US church to commit to net-zero emissions

  National Catholic Reporter covered the Catholic Climate Conference for Earthbeat. The architect of the Paris Agreement challenged the US church to commit to net-zero emissions.
• Climate and Energy Resources for Faith Communities: A Briefing with the U.S. Department of Energy

  "The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created the largest climate and clean energy investment America has ever made. These bills provide federal funding for energy and climate resiliency improvements that can be used in houses of worship and our individual homes. This historic legislation provides people of faith and conscience with an opportunity to live our values of caring for one another and for our Sacred Earth. The IRA included clean energy tax credits for wind and solar, EVs, efficiency upgrades, heat pumps, and much more. It also made it easier for nonprofits and houses of worship to access clean energy funds and tax credits through a program called 'direct pay.' Before the IRA, only homeowners and commercial entities with some tax liability could claim tax credits when installing solar panels or other eligible technologies on an eligible property. Now, the 'direct pay' option means non-taxable entities can also benefit from these credits. Join us for a briefing with the U.S. Department of Energy to learn more about direct pay, the tax credits, the programs, and the role faith communities can play in helping our country address the climate crisis and ensure that all communities are supported. If you aren't able to attend, you can still register, and we will send the recording out to everyone who registered."
• Catholic Climate Covenant YouTube Page

  This is the YouTube page for the Catholic Climate Covenant, containing several videos pertaining to their mission. Catholic Climate Covenant encourages US Catholics to care for creation and care for the poor.
• Encounter for our Common Home

  "'Encounter for Our Common Home' is a broad U.S. Catholic coalition-led training and advocacy campaign to encounter and urge government and Church leaders to support climate solutions from a place of faith and reason. When you join you will be the first to hear of campaign events including community-building events, trainings, young adult materials and engagement, webinars, resources, action alerts and more!"
• Wholemakers

  "We're thrilled to introduce Wholemakers, a groundbreaking resource for young adults focused on creation care and integral ecology. Developed for young adults, by young adults, this resource weaves together the latest climate science with insights from the Catholic tradition to equip young adults to be the faithful protagonists of transformation the world needs."
• Laudato Si' and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home

  “'Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home' is a biennial series to equip and inspire Catholics to more deeply integrate Laudato Si’ and its climate change teaching into the U.S. Church. The 2023 convening will be virtual and open on June 14 with a keynote address from Ms. Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) who brokered the Paris Agreement. Throughout June and July, the series will host virtual 90-minute sessions on the goals of the Vatican's Laudato Si' Action Platform. Each session will feature a scholar who describes the goal, a practitioner who outlines their work to achieve the goal, and a moderated Q&A. Catholic Climate Covenant is coordinating the Laudato Si' Action Platform in the U.S. Catholic Church through its God's Plan(et) initiative and Creighton University is a Platform signatory. The first 'Laudato Si' and the U.S. Catholic Church' convening was held at Creighton in June 2019 and the presentations were published in the Journal of Moral Theology. The second was held virtually in June 2021 and the presentation recordings are available here."
• "Tell the EPA"

  This email was sent out on the Interfaith Power and Light newletter asking for support in limiting coal ash pollution. It asks readers to reach out to the EPA to advocate in favor of stricter guidelines for coal burning power plants to clean up the pollution that is produced.