Faith in Action to Address Global Climate Change

MI and IN

The development and utilization of top-notch educational resources (PowerPoint presentation and study guides) on global climate change and the moral responsibility to act are developed by religious partnership.  Religious congregations are partnering to tour Michigan and Northern Indiana encouraging participants to develop local and regional policy agendas, particularly regarding energy consumption and generation. They coordinate face-to-face meetings with legislators and other key representatives on related policy issues to build relationships, come to common understandings and, ultimately, change public policy so public utilities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, create cleaner air and slow climate change.

Led by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters of Monroe, Michigan, but with assistance from the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters, the Dioceses of Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing, Kalamazoo (all in Michigan) and the Diocese of Fort Wayne, Indiana, together with the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Sisters of St. Joseph, Kalamazoo and the Holy Cross Sisters, South Bend, Indiana, this project has the potential to reach hundreds of thousands of Catholics and others in Michigan and Indiana. “Faith in Action” will become a formidable network of committed and resourceful individuals and institutions to carry forth this climate change project.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary community of women religious in Monroe, Michigan is uniquely qualified to lead this effort. One of their most significant accomplishments in the area of environmental responsibility was to encourage DTE Energy, an investor-owned utility in Michigan, to study the impact of climate change to its company. The report has been evaluated favorably by the socially responsible investment community.