Dear First Name,
Last month, I represented all of you, our Covenant friends and supporters, at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco (see press links below). I learned that there is much to do, yet much being done! Governments (local, regional, national) from around the world along with the finance, business, faith and philanthropic sectors, are stepping up big-time. This momentum is like a train: it has left the station; it is moving down the track. Our federal government may be throwing some debris on the tracks, but this train is not going to be stopped.
This week we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis. The Covenant’s educational program is getting great reviews so if you haven’t downloaded it or scheduled a time to explore the program with your faith community, it is not too late! I am also reminded that October is Respect Life Month. Current and future generations are at high risk from the unfolding of disasters created or enhanced by our warming planet. Let us pray for and educate others about the need to hear both the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” during this Respect Life Month.
Dan
Dan Misleh
Founding Executive Director
Catholic Climate Covenant
Action of the Month
Keep Cars Clean!
Now is the time to speak out against the Trump Administration’s proposed rollback of regulations designed to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. Twenty-seven percent of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are from the transportation sector. Transportation is the second leading source of GHG emissions in the United States, just behind electricity.
Studies indicate that if the proposed rollback of the previous administration’s Clean Car Rule is successful, our nation would consume 200 billion more gallons of gasoline and release 2 billion more metric tons of global warming gases into our atmosphere by 2040. In comparison to the existing Clean Car rule, the proposed rule harms, rather than protects, human health and the environment.
Some of the Covenant’s Catholic and interfaith partners are encouraging their members to voice their concerns about these new rules. We urge you to do so. Please edit and personalize the template letter.
Catholics Leading the Way
Feast of St. Francis Webinar Recording Is Available
Alice Thomas from Refugees International and Eric Clayton from Catholic Relief Services joined us last month to explore how climate change is already displacing people around the world and how the Catholic Church is responding by building climate resilience in many communities. The webinar, a complement to this year’s Feast of St. Francis program, “Who Is My Neighbor in a Climate-Threatened World,” can be watched here.
Laudato Si’ In Spoken Word Video
Created by Greycomm Studios of Loyola University Maryland, this poem video is a multimedia representation of Pope Francis's teaching on the environment in his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si': On Care For Our Common Home. It conveys the essence of the Pope's letter, which was written for the Church and for the world. A discussion guide is also available. The project received help from the Covenant, Greenfaith, and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Catholic Action in the News
We are in the news! Check out the recent articles highlighting Catholic Climate Covenant’s and other Catholic groups’ action on climate change:
Rollback of environmental regulations spur Catholic advocates to action
The Visitor; Diocese of St. Cloud, September 17, 2018 by Catholic New Services
Despite crisis, activist says Catholics “still in” on climate change fight
CRUX, September 17, 2018 by Christopher White
World leaders, faith groups gather for Global Climate Action Summit
National Catholic Reporter, September 17, 2018 by Brian Roewe
Faithful Action on Climate Change
Online Prayer Service for Feast of St. Francis
Our partner, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, will host an online prayer service to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and the closing of the Season of Creation on October 4th at 9:00 am (eastern). Click here to register.
If you are not able to join the prayer service live, you are welcome to register to receive a recording.
Yeb Saño, former lead climate negotiator for the Philippines, will offer a reflection before he begins his 1500 km journey to Katowice, Poland for the next climate negotiations. Joining Yeb in prayer and reflection will be Christian and environmental leaders from around the world.
What Is Happening to Our Beautiful Land?
We highly recommend you read this beautiful Season of Creation reflection by Scott Wright, Director of the Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach and member of the Covenant’s Steering Committee. In his reflection, Scott marvels at our amazing planet, its mountains and prairies, rivers and oceans, and asks if we are protecting it as the precious gift that we have been given, and which we must pass on to future generations. Thank you, Scott!
Dignity Health’s President and CEO Speaks Up About Impacts of Wildfires on Health
Lloyd Dean, President and CEO of Dignity Health, wrote an op-ed highlighting how climate change’s impacts on human health are already being felt and how Catholic hospitals are responding to the public health emergency caused by wildfires. Read the op-ed here. We are thankful for the leadership from Dignity Health and other Catholic hospital systems on this issue, including their support for the Catholic Climate Declaration. It’s inspiring to see many Catholic hospitals taking action and providing leadership on climate. See the list of signatories, including Dignity Health, here.
GCCM Sustainability Program Director Job Announcement
Our partner, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, is searching for a Program Director to launch and lead a global sustainability program for the Catholic Church. This is an exciting opportunity for someone wishing to put Laudato Si’ into action in Catholic parishes, dioceses, schools, and hospitals. Read the job announcement here.
SHINE Lead Campaigner Job Announcement
Shine, an organization that brings together the faith, philanthropic and corporate sectors to achieve universal access to clean, affordable and reliable energy by 2030 is searching for a Lead Campaigner to develop and implement the campaign’s partner engagement strategy. See the job announcement here.