We Must Be the Climate Leaders We Need

The global climate talks in Paris at the end of this month may be our last, best hope to avert the worst consequences of climate change.

 We must urge our leaders to conclude a strong, binding global climate agreement. The US must show leadership by drastically cutting our carbon pollution and aiding people and environments already damaged by climate change.

Pope Francis asks, in his encyclical letter “Laudato si’” What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up? He called for all of us to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Peter Morales, President of the UUA, and Bill Schultz, President of the UU Service Committee, wrote: The crisis of climate change is the gravest threat facing our world today.

More than 10,000 African American clergy last week called for climate change abatement as a human rights and social justice obligation: “we view climate change as a moral issue and one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Breathing dirty, carbon-polluted air that causes climate change contributes to thousands of asthma attacks, hospital visits, and premature deaths every year. Black and low income communities are often hit the hardest.” But agreements by politicians and national governments will not be sufficient. The Black ministers recognize that we must all act: “We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement and faithful use by humankind.“

Faith communities can demonstrate moral leadership on climate change by publicly committing as congregations and as individuals to reduce our energy use -- and then, to act on those commitments.

Take the Paris Pledge to strive for a 50% carbon emission reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Through the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions website, personal outreach and interfaith meetings, FACS will help congregations and congregants share their successes and challenges in reducing energy waste. Caring for creation is a responsibility of each of us – as individuals, as congregations, as states and countries. None can shirk.

The EPA estimates that the average building wastes 30% of its energy. If America’s 370,000 congregations cut energy use just 20%, it would save nearly $630 million per year that could be applied to missions and other priorities, and prevent more than 2.6 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Repairing our damaged planet, calls forth our best selves. Pope Francis’ encyclical concludes: May our struggles and our concern for planet never take away the joy of our hope. We must all be the leaders that we need to preserve our quality of life for our children.

May it be so.

Eric Goplerud, Executive Director
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions