Faith and science share distress over climate change
Increasingly, evangelical leaders are finding common cause with scientists to address the climate change crisis. Check out the video below for a discussion featuring Rich Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals on the topic, FPL’s Resouce Page on the environment, and our Best Practice study of the Evangelical Environmental Network.
Unfortunately, the current Administration has thus far failed to respond to this worsening crisis. By forming this unusual alliance with scientists, these evangelical leaders– who believe it is their moral obligation to preserve God’s creation — hope to convince the President and Congress to confront this growing threat.
On NPR, Richard Cizik discusses emerging evangelical issues
Hosted by Terry Gross on her NRP show Fresh Air, Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, discusses creation care from a pro-life perspective.
Get to know the Regeneration Project
Recognizing the deep connection between faith and ecology, the Regeneration Project is one of the emerging interfaith grassroots organizations that works directly with congregations in greening houses of worship. In October, it put An Inconvenient Truth in 4000 churches through its state Interfaith Power & Light chapters. According to their web site, “The Interfaith Power and Light effort began in 1998 with Episcopal Power and Light and the support of Grace Cathedral as a unique coalition of Episcopal churches aggregated to purchase renewable energy. In 2001, we co-founded California Interfaith Power and Light, which helps people of faith in California to organize and promote positive environmental change around energy and global warming. Nationally, we are working to establish Interfaith Power and Light programs in every state.”
As a person of faith, here’s 10 things you and your friends can do right now:
1. Sign up your congregation to become an IPL member in your state.
2. Go on a Low Carbon Diet, the 30 day program that helps you lose 5000 pounds. Find out how you can become a cool household by shedding pounds of carbon dioxide from your life.
3. Conduct a home energy audit. Use thermostat settings and insulation to conserve energy with heating, hot water, and air conditioning.
4. Sign up for renewable energy from your utility. In some states there is still no renewable energy to purchase. If this is the case in your state, you can buy wind tags – vouchers to help build wind energy — from Native Energy with whom we have partnered.
5. Ask your religious leader to give a sermon on global warming.
6. Buy energy efficient home appliances and buy a fuel efficient vehicle.
7. Be an Energy Star Congregation by considering ways to improve the efficiency of your buildings and equipment and curtail unnecessary energy use. For information, call 888 STAR-YES.
8. Use a car less and walk, bike, and use mass transit more.
9. Write, call or email your elected officials. Tell them global warming is a religious issue, that the U.S. must participate in strong and fair international agreements and adopt strong national policy. This is the most important thing you can do right now!
10. Stay informed. You can do this by exploring the links on this site. Coming soon! New ideas to help you and your congregation fight global warming.
Wait, is climate change a MORAL issue?
Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers, points out the reasons for creation care on the Tavis Smiley Show.