I know I've probably said this before, but I believe that Catholic Climate Covenant is doing its best work ever! With you, we have pushed backed hard against the current administration's rollbacks of basic environmental protections. Our solar installation pipeline has grown to $30 million and is helping to lower the carbon footprint of dozens of Catholic institutions. We are developing a new organizing campaign based on theCatholic Climate Declaration (many of you have already signed) to let the world know that U.S. "Catholics Are Still In" on the Paris Agreement. And this summer, we will launch a new initiative designed to weave a green thread into Catholic community life (stay tuned)! But all of this requires resources.
As 2018 comes to a close, we will be asking for your support. Our year-end-appeal simply must break all previous records. The stakes couldn't be higher! From last month's very troublesome Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report to the explosion of interest in our Catholic Energies program, we will need each of you to contribute something to our appeal. Even a small donation helps. If you've never given before, now is the time. If you've helped in the past, considering doubling your gift. We launch on Giving Tuesday. Can we rely on your support?
Dan
Dan Misleh
Founding Executive Director
Catholic Climate Covenant
Catholics Leading the Way
Understanding Extractive Industries and Their Impacts: Webinar Recording Available
Catholic Climate Covenant and the Inter-religious Working Group on Extractive Industries hosted a one-hour webinar exploring how a faithful and just response to climate change must also address the massive scale of extraction and exploitation of natural resources such as coal, oil and gas. Particular examples came from the Southwestern United States and Peru.
The webinar also highlighted how to avoid the damage inflicted by the fossil fuel industry, such as human rights abuses and environmental degradation, as we work to shift to a renewable energy future.
You can watch a recording of the webinar here. To learn more about faithful responses to extractive industries please check our new webpage.
Creation Care Teams Are the Church at Work
The Covenant’s Creation Care Team (CCT) program enables the Catholic community to engage parishes, schools, and religious communities at local levels. So far, over 350 teams are hard at work creating more sustainable facilities, educating on Laudato Si’ and creation care, and advocating for faith-informed climate policies. Does your community have an active Creation Care Team? Starting a new CCT or registering an existing CCT is easy!
CHECK OUT THE CREATION CARE TEAM WEBPAGE
Once registered, you will have access to a CCT Resource Library full of toolkits, a once a month email that helps guide and inform on projects and programs, and staff support to help resolve any challenges you might face.
We have prepared a one-page handout with useful information that can help you discuss the CCT program with your pastor or other interested people in your community.
Have questions about the CCT program? Contact Paz Artaza-Regan, Creation Care Teams Program Manager. She’s happy to help you get started or register an existing team.
Faithful Action on Climate Change
Register Now for the 2019 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering!
Registration now open for CSMG 2019!
Let Justice Flow (cf. Am. 5:24): A Call to Restore and Reconcile
February 2-5, 2019
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC
Special early bird registration rate ends November 16.
Don't miss this transformative annual gathering for current and emerging leaders in Catholic social ministry and advocacy!
Connect with missionary disciples working to bring justice to their communities. Dynamic and thought-provoking plenary presentations, briefings, and workshops will awaken you to how we as a Church are called to dialogue and respond to pressing domestic and international concerns such as racism, inequality, political polarization, and difficult issues facing the Church. Then, raise your voice in advocacy with members of Congress. With Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services, the Covenant will be presenting a workshop on practical ways to implement Laudato Si'.
Act now to be part of our special initiatives developing diverse leaders and young leaders in Catholic social ministry.
Learn more and register for the 2019 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering!
Washington Catholic Bishops' Environmental Principles Statement
On October 4th, 2018 the US Catholic bishops in Washington State released a Catholic Principles and Environmental Policy Statement to help voters discern their position on Initiative 1631, the Clean Air Clean Energy Initiative by applying these three principles:
- All efforts to reduce the impact of climate change should respect human life and dignity, especially that of the poorest and most vulnerable among us.
- In accord with their human dignity, local communities - especially low-income residents whose voice is often not heard - should have a voice in shaping the efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
- Workers should be supported in dealing with the negative effects on the workforce resulting from a shift away from fossil fuels by receiving assistance to mitigate impacts on their livelihoods and families.
The Washington bishops also "urge every person in Washington State to seek effective ways in our personal lives, and in our businesses and industries, to promote the common good and to care for God's creation".
Catholics Respond to UN Report Climate Report
A report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) examining the impacts on humanity and the planet of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and how policy-makers can respond was issued last month. The report states that humanity is at a "can't-fail moment" as we have less than 12 years to avoid "an ecosystem-altering climate crisis". U.S. Catholic creation care advocates responded to the report by asking the Catholic community to get serious about tackling our unsustainable lifestyles and to "see the issue of climate as part of a life-based ethic". Catholic development agencies also responded with an urgent call to action to limit global warming to below 1.5 °C by:
- Phasing out fossil fuels and switch towards renewable energy systems;
shifting to organic agriculture, redesigning agroecosystems to diversify and integrate them; changing diets, and reducing meat and dairy production and consumption; re-localizing food systems to reduce food loss and waste and build food sovereignty. - Recognizing the need to question the current framing of development and progress, which have led to the destruction of our planet wealthy nations should switch from a growth imperative to de-growth, building flourishing communities based on the principles of sufficiency.
Catholics Schools Taking Action
Catholic schools are at the forefront of creation care actions! Two wonderful examples are the composting activities at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Omaha, Nebraska and the renewable energy swap at Saint Louis University.
Catholic High Schools can participate in the Ignatian Solidarity Network's Carbon Challenge. This year, the focus is on reducing single-use plastics and schools are asked to take three steps:
Step one: Join the December 5th, 2018 kick off day of learning, prayer, and action.
Step two: Implement an Environmental Action and Planning Week in the spring of 2019.
Step three: Implement goals to make concrete changes on your campus through advocacy focused on your school's administration.
In addition, Catholic colleges and universities can find great climate change resourcesCatholic Relief Services I Am Climate Change campaign.