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ResolutionsLCWR Global Concerns Committee

Volume 16, Number 4 October 2007

To Action

LCWR8808 Cameron StreetSilver Spring, MD 20910301-588-4955fax: 301-587-4575mlucey@lcwr.org

Dan Misleh, Catholic Coalition on Climate Change

www.lcwr.org

EXPERIENCE

Resolutions to Action is an occasional publica-tion of the Global Concerns Committee of the

Leadership Conference of Women Religious(LCWR). Members of the committee are:Carol Descoteaux, CSC; Jacquelyn Doepker,OSF; Andrea Nenzel, CSJP; Joy Peterson,PBVM; Susan Schorsten, HM; KathleenStorms, SSND; and Marie Lucey, OSF, staff.Please address correspondence to:

Climate Change Puts Earth at Risk

Sia Anaysis

Many say that climate change isalready impacting the poor inthe United States and around

the world. Darfur? A prolongeddrought in the 80s and 90s forcedshepherds and farmers to move intoneighboring tribal lands. Katrina?While scientists are divided aboutwhether or not climate change is pro-ducing stronger cyclones, such eventsare more likely because of climatechange. Extreme weather events willimpact cities and towns, food produc-tion and water supplies, health careand human services. Unfortunately,those who have contributed the leastto climate change (people who arepoor)are suffering the harshest conse-quences of climate change.

It is difficult to ignore climatechange today. Over 2000 scientistsfrom 180 countries around the

world have just issued a summaryof their fourth assessment on climatechange as part of the Intergovernmen-tal Panel on Climate Change. Theysay:

ScienceWarming of the climate system isunequivocal: global average air andocean temperatures are rising, centu-ries-old snow and ice are melting, sealevels are rising.Most of the increase in global averagetemperatures is from increased green-house gases from human activities.More intense and longer droughtshave been observed over wider areassince the 1970s, particularly in thetropics and subtropics.The frequency of heavy precipitationevents has been observed in North andSouth America, northern Europe andnorthern and central Asia.Continued greenhouse gas emissionsat or above current rates would causefurther warming and climate changesthat willbe larger than those observedduring the 20th century.

Impacts

Many natural systems are beingaffected by earlier timing of springevents: leaf-unfolding, bird migra-tion and egg-laying, earlier springpeak discharge in glacier- and snow-fed rivers, and earlier migrations offish in rivers.

Impacts on human systems includehealth and living conditions: higherheat-related mortality, spread of in-fectious disease vectors in mountain-

ous areas, and increase in allergenicpollen in high and mid-latitudes.Warmer and drier conditions willlead to a reduced length of growingseason in much of Africa and otherplaces. Mountain settlements are atrisk to floods from melting glaciers.

Approximately 20-30% of plantand animal species will be at risk ofextinction if increases in global av-

erage temperature exceed 1.5-2.5C Sea-level rise will cause coastal

erosion and salt-water inundationof fresh water.

Sea-level rise will also create mil-lions of refugees; Pacific islandnations are already feeling thisimpact.

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Refetin

SolutionsGlobal greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-sions have grown since pre-industrialtimes, with an increase of 70% between1970 and 2004, Some of the solutions tocurbing emissions could include: Aggressive development of exist-

ing renewable energy technologies,

increased energy efficiency require-ments and global trading system ofgreenhouse emissions

More fuel-efficient vehicles, hybridvehicles, cleaner diesel vehicles,

biofuels Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

for coal-fired electricity generat-ing facilities; wind; advancedrenewable energy systems such asincluding tidal and wave energy,concentrated solar, and better

photo-voltaic cells Efficiencies in home and officelighting; more efficient appliancesand heating and cooling systems;improved stoves; better and moreextensive insulation; passive andactive solar design for heating andcooling

Changes in lifestyle and behaviorpatterns that can decrease the car-

bon output from individuals: eat-ing less meat, walking or bicyclingmore, consuming less

New, sustainable and appropriateenergy infrastructure investmentsin developing countries, upgradingenergy infrastructure in industrial-ized countries, and policies thatpromote energy security can helplower GHG emission reductions.

In recent years, the US bishops, theVatican and others in our Catholic

community have been reclaiming theancient teachings about care for creationand our obligations to our planetaryhome, The creation stories in Genesispredate Earth Day by thousands ofyears! Gods gift of creation and Godscommand to tend the garden take onnew and urgent meaning as our activi-ties are destroying the foundations of[our] existence, [our] earth BenedictXVI, July 24, 2007.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, God declarescreation to be very good (Gen. 1:31),and asked humankind to till andto tend the garden (Gen. 2:15), ThePsalmist says, the Earth is the Lordsand the fullness thereof (Ps. 24 :1), andso we must assure that the Earths giftsare shared with all. The Apostle Paul

says: The creation waits with eagerlonging for the revealing of the childrenof God. (Romans 8-19).

But because our very salvation dependson how we care for the least of these(Mt. 25:35), we must consider first andforemost the impact of our actions onthe most vulnerable. And in Godscovenant which I make between meand you and every living creature forperpetual generations, (Gen. 9:9-10)we are bound to act today to assure thewell being of life now and in the future.

Today Pope Benedict XVI encouragesus to listen to the voice of the earth.In a meeting with priests in NorthernItaly, the Pope said: ...obedience to thevoice of the earth is more important forour future happiness than the voices ofthe moment, the desires of the moment. Existence itself, our earth, speaks tous, and we have to learn to listen.

Each one of us is being called byGod to listen for our particularresponse to the threat of climate

change and Gods creation. As wediscern our individual and corporateactions, we must also be mindful ofclimate justice and act in solidarity withthe poor and the marginalized. Justrecently, the presidents of major faithorganizations sent a joint letter to the

US Congress saying: There is persua-sive evidence that the consequences ofclimate change will fall disproportion-ately on the worlds most vulnerablepeople and inaction will only worsentheir suffering. (June 7, 2007)

Rooting ourselves firmly in our faithcommunity can give us the courage andstrength to address the task before usto renew the face of the earth. What can

communities of faith do? In additionto the solutions listed above, here aresome other steps we can take:

Become carbon neutral: use themost efficient car possible; walkor bike rather than drive; replaceincandescent bulbs with compact

fluorescent ones; replace old appli-ances with Energy Star rated ones;use a programmable thermostatand keep indoor temperatureshigher in the summer and coolerin the winter; purchase renewableenergy from your electric utility;purchase carbon offsets (pur-chasing shares in organizationsthat encourage tree planting, forexample) to reduce your emissionseven more.

Support businesses that shareyour values and are taking stepsto reduce their energy use and thatprovide green products.

Urge your legislator to increase re-newable energy standards that willdrive investments in new technol-ogy.

Insist that the United States joinother nations in crafting a post-Kyoto global climate changestrategy.

Work with local utilities to ensure

that they offer renewable energy(wind, solar, biomass).Visit the new website of Catholicsand Climate Change (www.catholicsandclimatechange.org),a complement to the USCCB website on climate change (www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climate)

A Prayer Based on Psalm 104

O God,who set the earth on its foundations,

who makes the springs gush forthin the valleys,

living things both small and great,and bread to strenghten the human

heart,How manifold are your works!

Send forth your Spirit now,renew our spirits,

and renew the face of the earth.

http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climatehttp://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climatehttp://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climatehttp://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climatehttp://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climatehttp://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org/