God has called
us to be good stewards of the Earth and care for all of God’s creation, but
carbon pollution from our favorite form of energy is fundamentally altering our
climate. Together with our ecumenical and interreligious partners, the PC(USA)
is calling on political leaders in the U.S. to address issue of climate change
and to engage with the international community in coming up with a sustainable
response. Join your voice with others as we call on U.S. leaders to take on
leadership in helping to craft a moral global framework for the UN climate
negotiations.
There are
three important UN climate meetings in our sights, with the final negotiation
for a new international treaty taking place in 2015 in Paris, France. But the next
meeting will be next month in September 2014, in New York at the United
Nations. The faith community is
mobilizing around this event – the first major international climate meeting on
U.S. soil. See below to find out how to get involved.
U.S. policymakers
need to take a lead role during the United Nations climate treaty negotiations.
Reducing carbon emissions is vital to preventing devastating impacts of climate change and to providing
meaningful support for vulnerable communities. With the UN Climate Summit
taking place in just a few weeks’ time – in September in New York, now is the
time to let both President Obama and Congress know that we need a strong treaty
that requires all nations to take steps to control greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition
to the petition for lawmakers, we affirm our own ability to make a difference
through our own choices and actions. We are joining with ecumenical partners to
collect individual pledges for action as a way to demonstrate our commitment to
address climate change to our political leaders. Pledges for action can range
from changing a light bulb to installing solar panels on your church roof, from
hosting a climate vigil to preaching a sermon. Pledges for action will be
highlighted during several faith events in New York in September.
As people of
faith, we care for all of God’s creation with a special concern for vulnerable
populations. Presbyterians have acknowledged the burden of climate change and
environmental injustice, which first and foremost falls on those who are least
equipped to handle it. The 218th General Assembly (2008) presented a
policy recommendation on climate change that emphasized a commitment to stand
with “the least of these.” The 219th General Assembly (2010) also
approved an overture that affirmed “concern for God’s creation is, for every
Christian, an essential way of living faithfully.”
Together,
let us respond to the challenge of climate change with compassion; standing in
solidarity with our neighbors living in or near poverty who are most severely
affected by the changing climate, and striving to preserve God’s “good”
Creation.
As the next
UN event approaches next month, there are many things that you can do to join
in the movement. Sing the petition and
make a pledge in addition to the following:
1.
Promote the faith component of the People’s Climate March, held at
11:30 Sunday, September 21, in New York. There will be a religious
gathering and service approximately 1 hour prior to the march.
a.
If you live in the New York area, help provide
housing for those coming to the event. Sign
up here to provide housing around the People’s Climate March.
b.
Ring you own church bells in solidarity with
those marching in New York. Ring time: Sept. 21, 1:00pm in whatever time zone
you are located.
2.
Sign
the petition urging President Obama and the Senate to work towards a strong
UN climate treaty.
4.
Host a prayer vigil or feature a prayer on
climate in your church on the days preceding and following the UN Climate
Summit. The ecumenical advocacy community in DC, for instance, will hold a
worship service focused on climate change on Sept. 17 at 12:10pm, at the
Methodist Building in Washington, DC. Click here to let folks know about
your prayer service or event.
EVENTS:
People’s Climate March: Sunday, September 21, 11:30pm, Manhattan,
NY, NY. The march will start at Columbus Circle, go east on 59th Street to 6th
Ave; south on 6th Ave. to 42nd Street; west on 42nd Street to 11th Ave.; then
south on 11th Ave. to 34th Street (near the Javits Center). A Muslim group will
be holding their Dhuhr prayer from 12:50-1:00 pm – right during the March. At
1:00 pm, houses of worship around NYC will ring bells, sound shofars, chant
mantras, and make other outdoor spiritual sounds in a sign of solidarity with
the March – as part of a Global Climate Chorus.
Union
Theological Seminary conference: Religions for the Earth, September 19-21 (invitation only)
World Council of Churches Climate
Summit: September 21-22 (note that many
of the sessions during this summit are open)
Interfaith
Observance: Sunday, September 21, St. John the Divine (open invitation)
Other events
are also listed at: http://www.faithclimatepetition.org/ny-un-climate-summit.html
