Confronting Climate Change, Ourselves and Our Future with Faith.

Presented by Jeff Renner, meteorologist and person of faith, in celebration of the 5 year anniversary of Laudato Si.

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Climate Change Resource Library

Faith-Based Organizations | Organizations | Government Sources | DVD/Video/Multimedia | Print Materials | Online Documents

Faith-Based Organizations

Earth Ministry Based in Seattle, Earth Ministry is striving to inspire and mobilize the Christian Community to play a leadership role in building a just and sustainable future. It offers e-mail alerts about environment-related events throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as the Greening Congregations Handbook: Stories, Ideas, and Resources for Cultivating Creation Awareness and Care in Your Congregation. A four-session process for faith communities.

Catholic Climate Covenant The Covenant strives to provide a rich array of resources on climate change for individual or collective prayer, education and advocacy that are rooted in Catholic teaching and express care for God’s creation. Catholic individuals, groups and institutions are invited to take the St. Francis Pledge.

USCCB—Climate Change Justice and Health Initiative Part of the Environmental Justice Program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), this site features information on what Catholics are already doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as ideas on what people can do at home, at school/work, and in parishes and communities. It also offers homily suggestions and material for parish bulletins, including quotes from papal statements and Clip Art.

Catholic Climate Movement Concerned about human-made climate change, we have come together to care for God’s creation, for people who are poor and for our children. We are laity, religious, and clergy, theologians, scientists, and activists from all over the world, united by our Catholic faith and our work on environmental and social issues.

CAFOD UK International development arm of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Visit their website for action opportunities and status updates based on their work with vulnerable populations already affected by climate change around the globe.

Catholic Health Association: Climate Change & Catholic Health Care Inspired by faith and values, the Catholic health ministry has formed a partnership with sponsors, systems, facilities and with experts in environmental responsibility to reduce the environmental burden of the health care we provide.

Interfaith Moral Action on Climate Change Collaborative initiative of religious leaders, groups and individuals in response to the pressing need for more visible, unified, prophetic action to address the climate crisis.

Interfaith Power and Light Responds to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Climate Change Statement from the Irish Bishops The bishops of Ireland released a statement on climate change in 2009. They invite all “to reflect on ‘that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying’ (CV n. 50).” The Cry of the Earth is the Irish Bishops’ Conference pastoral reflection on the challenges of climate change. See pastoral reflection video.

Creation Justice Ministries The Eco-Justice Program office works with member denominations to protect and restore God’s creation. Their global warming page highlights ways to increase parish energy efficiency; provides resources for group study, worship and sermons; tells stories describing how people of faith are taking action; and much more.

Unitarian Universalist Association Statement of Conscience: This Unitarian site offers the text of its thoughtful and challenging statement of conscience on global warming. The declaration sets forth both personal and communal pledges of what they will do to stop global warming.

Organizations

350.org An international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis—the solutions that science and justice demand. Our focus is on the number 350—as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number—it’s a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

How to Reduce Climate Change Suggested actions to reduce climate change.

Climate Solutions Based in Olympia, this organization is promoting initiatives to increase our society’s use of renewable energy sources, especially the opportunities such a switch offers to farmers in the Northwest.

Carbon Footprint Calculator Calculate your carbon footprint with this calculator by the Nature Conservancy.

Three Degrees Warmer A Climate Justice Project at the University of Washington School of Law. Three Degrees works to design future institutions capable of addressing the human impacts of climate change and to assist climate-impacted communities in seeking compensation for climate harms.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation Purchase green tags or calculate your carbon emissions. Green Tags represent the environmental benefits that occur when clean, new renewable energy is substituted for power that is produced by burning fossil fuel.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) NRDC is a respected source for understandable information on complex public policy issues and its offerings on global warming are no exception. If you want to learn about this important issue, NRDC is the source. Also, the site includes a “four-point solution that would slash U.S. global warming pollution in half by 2050.”

Green For All Based in Oakland, founded by Van Jones, their mission is “to help build a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.” An exciting nation-wide effort recognizing climate change as one of the most urgent issues facing humanity while at the same time demanding that the green economy not leave minorities and low-income people behind.

Union of Concerned Scientists A leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS carries out excellent research and produces strong resources on global warming and many other issues as well.

Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change Hosted by Penn State, this site has information concerning “a collaborative program that seeks greater visibility and understanding of the ethical dimensions of climate change.” Among its offerings is an extensive bibliography pertaining to the justice issues involved with global warming.

Physicians for Social Responsibility An organization which advocates for social change using medical and public health expertise. It offers comprehensive information on the human health impact of climate change.

Solar Action Alliance Solar Action Alliance is a group of environmentalists who want to spread the word about the most clean, reliable, and abundant source of renewable energy: the sun. Website includes benefits and basics of solar and infographics for each state.

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Established in 1998 as a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization. The Center’s mission is to provide credible information, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change. Of particular note, it offers information addressed to the business community.

Government Sources

Global Cool Cities Alliance A collaboration between community members, organizations, businesses and local leaders to implement clean energy solutions that save money, create jobs and help curb global warming. Since 2005, over 1000 city and county leaders have made a commitment to cut their community’s carbon footprint. With these commitments comes a challenge and opportunity — and we can help you turn your community into a “cool” community.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Established by the United Nations to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for understanding climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. It is the most authoritative scientific panel in the world on climate change. IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report will be released in 2022 involving hundreds of scientists throughout the world.

EPA: Climate Change Offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society—communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments. It also provides a description of the health and environmental effects caused by global warming.

EPA: Energy Star for Congregations This EPA site is a treasure trove of information for how to make churches and other parish buildings more energy efficient. Among the resources is a listing of architecture and engineering firms with experience in sustainable building design. It even has suggestions of how to do public relations about the greening of your congregation. Now you can save money for your church while saving the world.

DVD/Video/Multimedia

24 Reasons for Hope The Climate Reality Project held a 24 hour live multimedia event on climate change: Over the course of 24 hours they explored 24 reasons to be hopeful about our future and empowered people around world to commit to a day of climate action. Watch short clips or the whole event.

An Inconvenient Truth Purchase your own copy of the documentary of former Vice President Al Gore and his efforts to alert the world to the crisis of global warming. There is also a summary of the scientific evidence for how climate change is already impacting the environment, Available on-loan from IPJC.

DIRT! The Movie DIRT! takes you inside the wonders of the soil. Drought, climate change, even war are all directly related to the way we are treating dirt. DIRT! shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil. Available on-loan from IPJC. Download a discussion guide from Interfaith Power & Light.

Global Climate Change and The Praxis Cycle What is Earth Asking of Us? This DVD and Study Guide lead us through Experience, Social Analysis and Theological Reflection and move us to act to change our choices and behaviors to reduce the ways in which we contribute to climate change. 2014 Available on-loan from IPJC

Interactive Climate Modules NASA has put together various interactive online modules to visualize what is happening to Earth with climate change.

How Hot Will it Get in My Lifetime? An interactive timeline created by The Guardian to see how much Earth will warm in an average lifespan starting with your birth year.

Nourish Traces our relationship to food from a global perspective to personal action steps. Nourish illustrates how food connects to such issues as biodiversity, climate change, public health, and social justice. Download Interfaith Power and Light’s Cool Harvest companion guide for ways to take action in your community.

“This is Your Home” Global Climate Change Presentation A three-part slide show presentation created by the Justice, Peace and Sustainability Office for the IHM Sisters of Monroe, MI with accompanying study guide all made available for free download.

Too Hot Not to Handle An HBO special produced by Laurie David (An Inconvenient Truth) that originally was shown in Spring 2006. Available on-loan from IPJC

Print Materials

A Reader’s Guide to Laudato Si’ by Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ

Care for All of Creation Reflection Book IPJC’s six-session process for faith communities. Each session includes prayer, education, Catholic Social Teaching, analysis, discussion, signs of hope and action.The Weather Makers: The History and Future Impact of Climate Change A book by Tim Flannery, February 2006 In addition to another listing of what people can do to reduce carbon emissions, this site offers information on a young adult version of The Weather Makers.

The End of Nature A book by Bill McKibben, 1989 The first major book on global warming written for the general public.

Fight Global Warming Now: The Handbook for Taking Action in Your Community A book by Bill McKibben and the Step It Up Team, 2007 A hands-on guidebook to stopping climate change.

A New Climate for Theology: God, the World, and Global Warming A book by Sally McFague, 2008 Download the Study Guide

Online Documents

IPCC Fifth Assessment Report The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has prepared an updated report on the state of the climate. It includes reports on: The Physical Science Basis; Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability; and Mitigation of Climate Change.