Smokestacks
Photo Courtesy of General Board of Church and Society.
A United Methodist Insight Column
The Senate has introduced a bipartisan infrastructure bill that allocates $1 trillion for urgently needed improvements, but the final version stripped out the strongest efforts to deal with the global climate emergency.
The UMC Creation Justice Movement’s coordinating committee is urging United Methodists to advocate with federal legislators for two goals: making climate justice a priority and supporting clean energy. The movement’s action alert says:
“We are witnessing daily the devastating consequences of climate inaction. As people of faith, called to care for God’s good creation and stand in solidarity with our neighbors, we must raise our voices and demand action by our elected representatives.
“Right now, the United States Congress is considering which priorities to include in an infrastructure package and as part of the budget. These two tracks of legislation are key to climate action in this Congress. We invite you to contact your elected representatives today and urge them to include provisions that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support climate-vulnerable communities, and promote racial justice.
“Both Church and Society and United Methodist Women have action alerts available to easily connect with your elected representatives. We urge you to go to these links and contact your Members of Congress and Senators today.”
I recommend visiting the UMC Creation Justice Movement’s website regularly to read the many valuable resources it offers.
Sing for the planet
Another advocacy group, the interdenominational Creation Justice Ministries, brings word of way for all churches and individuals to participate in November’s COP26 climate conference: Sing for the planet.
From the website Hybrid Music: “The Climate Emergency means we need to make our voices heard. We’ve marched, we’ve voted, we’ve petitioned, now we are going to sing, and sing in one large choir, the #HouseOnFireChoir with A Passion for the Planet: Join us in singing for the UN Climate Summit.
“You will be part of the finale of the COP26 on-line performance of Geoffrey Hudson’s A Passion for the Planet. Record yourself, your friends, your family or your choir, and send in your performance, and we’ll (literally) bring your voices to Glasgow, Scotland this November! Explore this website for more details on how to participate.
See Hybrid Music’s Sing page for details on how to join in Geoffrey’ Hudson’s oratorio. Deadline for submitting recordings is Monday, Oct. 11.
Hybrid Music’s website also says that faith-based organizations have four goals for COP26, scheduled Nov. 1-12 in Glasgow, Scotland:
- Keep 1.5 degrees within reach (1.5 degrees is pegged as the maximum temperature increase in global warming to stave off catastrophe).
- Protect communities and natural habitats.
- Mobilize finance.
- Work together.
It’s a bumpy road to COP26
Covering Climate Logo
While we’re singing for the planet, we’d better also be pushing hard to get the world’s leaders to fulfill the promises of the Paris Accords on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, argues The Climate Beat newsletter of Covering Climate Now. CCN is a worldwide collaboration of some 400 publications, including United Methodist Insight, committed to enhanced reporting of the global climate emergency to raise public awareness of the critical need for action.
Climate Beat’s July 29 issue noted the lackadaisical attitude of some countries attending a recent meeting in Naples preliminary to the COP26 climate conference:
“At issue during the Naples meeting was language around plans to phase out coal power and the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. Some countries argued for more aggressive goals to cap rise at 1.5 degrees within a decade. China and India, however, argued for sticking with the Paris Agreement’s original targets set in 2015. India, the world’s third largest emitter after China and the US, subsequently skipped a meeting in London, hosted by COP26 president Alok Sharma, which was designed to lay further groundwork for the Glasgow summit. It was the only one of 51 invited countries not to show.”
The newsletter goes on to counsel journalists: “The COP26 summit, and all the small gatherings on the road to it, is the most important climate story of the year. Our audiences need us to lead a public conversation—to make the COP summit relevant to them (because it is!) and help them engage. Failure at the COP is not an option. So, if world leaders are failing to deliver now, we shouldn’t fail to call them out—and loudly.”
Thankfully, we know that a group of young Methodists are doing just that (see link below). Should more mature Methodists do any less?
Watch ‘Environmental Justice Day’ panel
The General Board of Church and Society will present “Environmental Justice Day: A Just and Equitable Vision for Creation Care" at 7 p.m. ET Aug. 26 on Zoom. The announcement says: “This virtual panel discussion will equip attendees to deepen their perspective on Environmental Justice that centers equity and justice and raises awareness on the importance of honoring the past, present, and future of the Environmental Justice movement. The discussion will take place a few days before the observation of Environmental Justice Day on Aug. 29, which marks the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Register for the discussion here.”
Media Mentions as of August 3, 2021
Scientists expected thawing wetlands in Siberia’s permafrost. What they found is ‘much more dangerous.’ – Washington Post*
During Disability Pride, religious institutions still behind on accessibility – Religion News Service
New York City to require proof of vaccination for indoor activities – Washington Post*
Heat waves to drastically worsen in Northern Hemisphere, studies warn – Washington Post*
‘Religious freedom’ is not just for Christian conservatives. Liberals must take it back – USA Today *
Former ‘ex-gay’ leaders denounce ‘conversion therapy’ in a new documentary – NPR
Hawaii's Big Island Is Burning With the Biggest Wildfire It's Ever Seen – VICE
*Paid subscription required.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.