Greening the Autumn and 'Gobsmackingly Bananas'

Crisis Watch Oct. 5, 2023

by

A United Methodist Insight Column

Autumn actually may arrive in North Texas, where United Methodist Insight is produced, by the weekend of Oct. 7-8. The forecast for showers and cooler temperatures signals that the heat-ravaged Summer of 2023 may be over at last.

However, Americans arose on Oct. 4 to another weird weather phenomenon: Canadian wildfire smoke blanketed much of my home state of Florida all the way down to Key West. Read that phrase again: Canadian wildfire smoke covered Florida.

Ironically – or maybe with a good sense of timing – our colleagues at Climate Central released a report on the same day about how wildfire smoke has affected the United States over the past several months. In addition to the graphics posted with this column, here are some of the report's key concepts:

  • The average person in the U.S. has breathed in more harmful wildfire smoke in 2023 than in any year since 2006. 
  • This year is part of a trend of increasing fire weather, which fuels the flames and smoke that put health and safety at risk in our warming climate. 
  • Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke is a nationwide health concern. Studies suggest that smoke exposure in the U.S. has increased 27-fold over the last decade. 
  • The West has more large fires and local smoke-related pollution, but fires from the western U.S. and Canada affect the entire contiguous U.S. 
  • New research links wildfire smoke with stalled or reversed air quality improvements in 30 U.S. states since 2016, with the worst effects in the West. 

It can't be said often enough that Climate Central produces – and freely distributes – some of the most informative, helpful data and graphics about climate change of any resource. All organizations, including United Methodist churches, need to take stock of what's happening with the planet to plan effectively for both church administration and mission outreach.

What we mustn't do is ignore the climate crisis. Reports like those from Climate Central and other sources help us recognize how climate change is affecting us locally so we can respond in hope and faith, not give in to "eco-despair."

Speaking of Florida, check out this article "Climate change is a fiscal disaster for local governments − our study shows how it’s testing communities in Florida" on The Conversation about a new study detailing the fiscal impact of climate change on Florida cities. It doesn't have a speck of a faith angle to it, except that it's one of those "straws in the wind" that alert local churches to developments that could affect them, now and in the near future.

If you need any more climate stories, check out NPR's coverage of climate solutions this week. Says its newsletter:

"NPR is dedicating this entire week to stories and conversations about the search for climate solutions. This week of stories isn’t just about covering the climate — it’s meant to highlight innovators around the world who are dedicated to finding solutions, and to remind people that they can always do something about climate change."

We agree wholeheartedly -- we can always do something about climate change.

Greening the autumn

The fall season in the United States conjures up images of brightly colored trees, but faith-based advocates have taken to "greening" the autumn with multiple seminars and webinars.

Faith in Place, the Midwestern climate advocacy organization, invites participants to join it on October 9 at 5:30 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. ET for Session 3 of the Green Team Summit, Inclusive Funding: Federal Funding Opportunities for Houses of Worship. Says the announcement: "In this session, Lauren Reeg of Rocky Mountain Institute will provide an update on opportunities available to Houses of Worship around reducing costs and/or receiving federal funding for climate projects. We will also share connect Houses of Worship interested in learning more will local programs that can support navigating the funding opportunities."

Interested in this session, but can't make it live? Register for the Green Team Summit to receive recordings. Register Here!

In addition to the federal funding session, Faith in Place will explore other topics in six sessions scheduled Oct. 8-11 (all times are Central Times):

  • Session 1 - Bridging the Divide: Intersectionality in Environmentalism with Keynote Speaker Leah Thomas, Sunday, October 8, 2023, 5:00 PM  6:30 PM 
  • Session 2 - Exploring Intersectional Frameworks: Building Awareness of How We See the World, Monday, October 9, 2023 11:30 AM  12:30 PM 
  • Session 4 - Transforming Eco-Anxiety: The Role of Spiritual and Self-Care Practices In Navigating Climate Trauma, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 11:30 AM  12:30 PM 
  • Session 5 - A Candlelit Vigil: Finding Comfort in an Age of Climate Trauma, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 5:30 PM  6:30 PM 
  • Session 6 - The Intersectional Environmentalist Book Club, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 5:30 PM  6:30 PM 

Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) issued a new report, "The Faith Factor in Climate Change" this week. Among other results, PRRI says: "A new national survey from PRRI finds that the majority of Americans (61%) believe that climate change is caused mostly by human activity such as burning fossil fuels. The report examines Americans’ assessments of the threats of climate change, how it affects their lives and voting behavior, and what steps they are willing to take to combat climate change." Download the full report.

The World Association for Christian Communication will hold a "conversation circle" Oct. 11 on "Local Climate Voices: The Missing Link to Real Climate Action?" Says the announcement: "Local communities are the hardest hit by climate change — and probably the least heard in global policy debates. Yet their experience and knowledge are key to addressing this existential threat to our planet.

"How can local voices make a difference? What are examples of local action – and can they be expanded into regional or international methods? Can a communication rights approach to climate change open a model for action that engages local communities in a meaningful way?

"During this WACC Global online discussion, we’ll

  • hear from local and global experts including Lia Mai Torres (Philippines), Center for Environmental Concerns; Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Nepal), Cultural Survival; and Victor Lopez Illescas (Guatemala), Ford Foundation
  • explore how local climate voices could be the missing link to real climate action
  • develop at least one key recommendation to take to the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.

REGISTER TODAY

'Gobsmackingly bananas' about summer's heat

It's worth reading The Guardian's report on scientists' reactions to new data about the record summer heat just for this quote:

“September was, in my professional opinion as a climate scientist, absolutely gobsmackingly bananas,” said Zeke Hausfather, at the Berkeley Earth climate data project.

The article is full of data and charts that show how rapidly the climate crisis has affected our everyday lives. Don't miss it. And if you find it valuable, throw some money at The Guardian to keep up its work.

Farewell to an icon

I close this column with a sad farewell to an icon: the 300-year-old Sycamore Gap tree, featured in the Kevin Costner movie "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," was hacked down last week by a teenager and an adult accomplice. God knows what they thought they were accomplishing with this shocking act of vandalism, for the beautiful tree that stood next to Hadrian's Wall in Great Britain was beloved by many. Columnist Ben Martynoga of The Guardian's Down to Earth newsletter rightly asks:

"What does it really say about our relationship with the non-human world? And might this sorry interlude carry any seeds of hope?"

After speaking with some experts in UK conservation, Martynoga recommended that Brits get to know their local trees and log them in the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory. I looked for a similar registry for the United States, but found nothing. If you know of a way to register and protect ancient, sacred trees in the United States, such as the Methuselah tree in California, please let me know. Thanks

Media Mentions as of Oct. 4, 2023

Methodist Church wins a state grant for solar power | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Three people caught on camera stealing ATM using a stolen church van - WMAR

Celebrate 150 years of the Forty Fort United Methodist Church! - PAhomepage.com

Rotterdam United Methodist Church's annual Fall Festival — Images (6 photos) - The Daily Gazette

Winfield United Methodist Church hosts free concert | Southeast Iowa Union

Local church completes week of service projects | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News

Norway, Ill. church celebrates 170th anniversary, mural dedication - Shaw Local

St. Matthew UMC celebrates 157th anniversary | Camden - pmg-sc.com

An Appleton church removed a time capsule. Members will open it on 175th anniversary – The Post-Crescent

United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia awards grants - WV News

Churches to seek United Methodist exit at final exodus meeting in OKC - The Oklahoman

SLIDE SHOW: Sit, Stay, Sanctify: United Methodist hosts inaugural Blessing of the Animals – Bowling Green Daily News

Americans are leaving church behind. They're giving up a lot more than faith. - The Courier-Journal

An award-winning religion journalist who has reported on The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years, Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, an online journal she founded in 2011. "Crisis Watch" forms part of Insight's participation in Covering Climate Now, an international collaboration of 600-plus news outlets around the world committed to enhanced climate coverage, focusing especially on solutions. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.