Katharine Hayhoe
Prominent climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe will be the keynote speaker at the Green Team Summit Sept. 11. (UM Insight Screengrab)
UPDATED Aug. 25, 2022
If the climate events of recent weeks have you feeling glum – after all, we just had a 1-in-1,000-year storm that caused major flooding here in Dallas – you'll want to sign up for The Green Team Summit, Rooted Together, happening in person and online Sept. 11-14.
United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women) and Faith in Place are among the major partners of this event. Faith in Place is a nonprofit organization that "empowers people of all faiths to be leaders in caring for the Earth." They are the Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin Affiliate of Interfaith Power & Light.
UWF's announcement says, "The summit will engage faith and spiritual leaders from across the Midwest, connecting communities to environmental justice, healing and climate resilience. The 7th Annual Summit will be a hybrid event, fully accessible online with in-person watch parties across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The summit will take place in six sessions over Sept. 11-14."
The summit’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, chief climate scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a distinguished professor and chair of the climate center at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. "She can often be found talking to people about why climate change matters and what we can do to fix it!" says the announcement.
See the schedule and agenda, learn more, and register for free at greenteamsummit.org.
Full disclosure: United Methodist Insight has signed on to be a corporate sponsor of the Green Team Summit. We don't usually sponsor events, but the latest local effects of climate change and the need for people of faith to be active in climate solutions prompted us to help make the summit free and accessible for all. We join UMC-related Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and other United Methodist groups co-sponsoring this event as witness to our commitment to creation care.
Sacramento wind energy
Climate Central created this graphic showing how much energy has been generated by wind power in Sacramento, Calif. (Climate Central Graphic)
Remarkable wind power energy
Climate Central, one of the go-to organizations for congregations needing solid data on climate change, recently ran a study of the wind power generated in Sacramento, Calif., headquarters of the California-Nevada Annual Conference. You can use Climate Central's WeatherPower tool to find out how much wind electricity is being generated in your area, and create your own customized, downloadable graphic with different ways to show what the data mean.
California United Methodists will be interested to know that according to a Princeton University study, their state has the potential to add 42,400 wind energy jobs by 2050. The implications of that opportunity for all kinds of community impact are significant. Climate Central says: "If you’re interested in learning more about the economic benefits of wind power and how it can help the U.S. reduce carbon emissions, check out our recent solutions briefs:Wind Power Brief and Net Zero America Brief
About those recent floods ...
We often use content from The Conversation, a fact-based news website that provides scholarly articles written in everyday language to help inform faith-based readers. Having experienced serious flash floods on Aug. 21 and 22 because of climate-intensified rain storms, we suggest that thoughtful United Methodists check out this article by Richard B. (Ricky) Rood, Professor of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering and School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan.
Professor Rood writes in an article, "Dallas is only the latest flood disaster: How cities can learn from today’s climate crises to prepare for tomorrow:"
"Dallas was hit with nearly 15 inches of rain that turned roads into rivers and poured into homes on Aug. 21 and 22, 2022. Four weeks earlier, extreme storms struck the mountains of eastern Kentucky, sending rivers sweeping through valley towns and triggering mudslides that killed more than three dozen people.
"Floods are complex events, and they are about more than just heavy rain. Each community has its own unique geography and climate that can exacerbate flooding, so preparing to deal with future floods has to be tailored to the community."
The effects of local weather intensified by climate change should concern everyone, not just faith-based climate activists. Citizens likely will be called upon in the future to give input and vote on local and regional actions aimed at climate mitigation and adaptation, so Dr. Rood's article is definitely a word to the wise.
Media Mentions as of Aug. 24, 2022
United Methodist Church bishops mount defense amid conservative attacks – tennessean.com*
Arkansas bishop rejects attempt by Central United Methodist Church to enter discernment process – The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bishop slams 'negative rhetoric' as conservative Methodists declare end to moratorium – Religion News Service
Doylestown church to lead tornado rebuilding efforts in Kentucky: How you can volunteer to help – WKYC
Look at a United Methodist timeline: Why are conservatives going nuclear with lawsuits? – GetReligion
Hindman United Methodist Church gets help from Pennsylvania organization to meet needs ... – WYMT
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Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" is part of Insight's contributions to Covering Climate Now, a worldwide collaboration of some 500 news outlets committed to enhance reporting on the climate crisis. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.