Highlights of The Climate Justice Training Day at Union Theological Seminary

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by Fr. James DiLuzio, Attendee, 6 June 2023 

Title: Resilience and Resolve: A Climate Justice Training for New York City Faith Communities  Sponsored by The Union Theological Seminary Center for Earth Ethics, NYC 10027   https://centerforearthethics.org/resilience-and-resolve/

This gathering of NYC faith leaders and officials found itself in a most extraordinary context – a situation of foreboding that added to the urgency of faith communities embracing the Environmental Care Movement. Our meeting put us in the immediate aftermath of the worst air pollution in NYC on record due to winds carrying smoke from a series of out-of-control wildfires in Canada See Canada wildfire smoke: New York City has world’s worst air pollution (cnbc.com) If you would like to read a brief article of the event on Union Theological Seminary’s website go to: https://centerforearthethics.org/blog/cee-convenes-new-york-city-faith-leaders-for-climate-justice-training/ Otherwise, read on for all the fascinating details.

THE AGENDA may be accessed here: https://centerforearthethics.org/resilience-and-resolve/resilience-and-resolve-agenda/

Topic 1: CLIMATE SCIENCE

Presenters: Christian Braneon Ph.D. Christian V. Braneon | Environmental Justice & Climate Just Cities Network (columbia.edu)

Rabbi Jennie Rosenn from Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action Rabbi Jennie Rosenn (parliamentofreligions.org) Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action

  • Western Nations Climate concerns began in the late 19th Century as the result of the Industrial Revolution and the proliferation of factories.
  • 1950’s – Russian scientists published concerns.
  • 1960’s – U.S.A. scientists begin a conversation on climate
  • Today:  Information from NASA Satellites:
    • Sea levels are rising with an expectation of up to three feet before the end of this century; hurricanes are more destructive as sea levels rise.
    • Rainstorm patterns are changing to cloud bursts of extreme rainfall.
  • Cities contribute more to pollution and experience more heat waves than rural areas
    • Poor areas in cities such as the Bronx among New York’s five boroughs register greater ground heat than the other neighborhoods
      • Bicycle paths are rare in poorer areas
    • Power outages increasingly impact the health of the elderly and poor-income households.
  • New York State and New York City offer a microcosm for research, models for equitable resource distribution.            
    • 23 % of the state has an imminent chance of flooding
    • 50% of the state is at risk of debilitating high temperatures
  • Cities Municipalities must
    • Design and promote effective ways to deal with extreme heat conditions
    • Plan for more affordable housing in higher elevations – work through HUD and FEMA as both offer grants
    • Reduce all forms of plastic waste
    • Hold Recycle Plants to greater accountability including ways to offer incentives for integrity in collection and processing
  • Our nation has a 7-year Open Window to make significant pollution reduction.
  • Top Priority: Reduce FOSSIL FUEL as an energy source working toward complete replacement by water, wind, solar and other power sources.
  • Identify and significantly reduce Greenhouse Gases

Jewish Call to Climate Action continues to raise climate extreme’s impact on refugees and on racial and ethnic justice issues.  Jewish Call for Climate Action | Hazon

Topic 2: FAITH COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS

Presentations and Discussions among participants elicited the following:

  • Faith communities offer a significant Prophetic Voice to inspire social initiatives to combat global warming by emphasizing the Judaic-Christian outlook of hopeful, forward-looking, transformational world views for peace and collaboration, and citing similar goals in other faith traditions. Emphasize
    • The Values of Resilience, Fortitude.Courage in Calamity. What is now is definitely NOT what we can be.
  • The Bible and many faith traditions’ histories evidence a very Healthy Criticism of Power Structures. Thank you, prophets! Similarly, this generation must offer a public voice to the consequences of laws and procedures that prevent or inhibit local communities’ access to clean air and fresh water.
  • Humbly acknowledge and RECTIFY the results of the history of religious institutions becoming co-opted by power structures. Provide evidence of these events and offer prescriptions to remedy the patterns of this dubious alignment. Inspire your congregation to show visible signs of concern for Future Generations
  • Assure congregations that Conflicts are Opportunities, and these challenges are prophetic calls for change. Remember this: It often takes THREE repetitions in a public statement, homily, or sermon for people to remember it.
  • Address the psychological and social dynamics of fear and denial contributing to apathy, lack of compassion, isolation, and social collapse evident in faith traditions’ scriptures and religious history.
    • In Islam, adherents are reminded of what is called “The Providential Consequence of Corruption in the Land” as the impetus for the people’s return to righteousness.
  • Observant Muslims are required to donate 2.5% of their income to charity. Question: How does this compare to your congregations’ charitable giving? Can you promote a healthy spirit of competition? The time for Charity toward the Earth is now!
  • Concerns about Pollution factor need more attention:

Promote INTERSECTIONALITY Inquire and learn from the people most impacted by events of natural and industrial disasters and experience the burdens of local, state, and federal legislation.

  • Undocumented workers, refugees, and marginalized neighborhoods are often ignored by health and safety regulators; they often suffer the most from working in the heat.
  • “No one left behind” is not today’s reality but it can be!

Create “Communities of Care”

  • Conduct town meetings for people to work through emotions associated with climate change denial or apathy, ideally facilitated by a psychologist. The goal is to help people relate their grief and disappointment and fears that their current life patterns and relationship to nature need to change.
  • Investigate and share everyone’s “Zone of Resilience.”
    • Follow up with Mental Wellness Techniques and offer sessions that affirm “we bear the stress together.” We need to “heal past the ‘Us’ that we are, and “collaborate forward” to a better future.
    • Emphasize that we already HAVE the Science and Technology to address the human contribution to Climate Change.
    • Highlight HUMILITY, JUSTICE, and STEWARDSHIP passages in faith traditions – all that contributes to “Our common humanity,” and “Reverence and care for Creation.”

EMULATE AND MODIFY AS NEEDED

Study other institutions’ ACTION PLANS and adapt them to your congregation’s and community’s needs.

DO SOME RESEARCH:

Research African, Methodist, and Episcopal Church (AME)’s Resolutions on GREEN THEOLOGY and Practice.

  • Research Reform Judaism’s Climate Change Platform.
  • Elicit congregants’ participation in Earth-themed Music and Art Presentations
  • Study and emulate in consciousness and action Native and Indigenous peoples’ intimate relationship with Nature – past and present.
  • Research Available Local and Federal Government Grants for Institutions (including Religious Institutions) adopting GREEN INITIATIVES.

Topic 3: CLIMATE COMMUNICATION

Presenter: Al Gore

  • The goal is to move from perplexity to simplicity in language, visuals, and concepts, and to remain Positive and Hopeful about change for the better.
    • 90% of Coal and Gas can be converted to solar and wind power readily.Solar Power is now the cheapest alternative worldwide.
    • HOPEFUL REALITY: World Temperature Rise can be halted within three years’ time and if policies and procedures change immediately to non-pollutant energy sources and industrial waste is prevented to reach a NET ZERO factor in human / industrial (including Automobile and transportation) contributions to climate change
      • To stay at Net Zero: 50% of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) will fall out of the atmosphere in as little as 20 to 30 years.
  • Religious Institutions are already primed to promote the message: “What we take, we give back.” Address the ways USA government historically has promoted the commodification of peoples and of nature – the dark side of “Discovery.”
  • Re-examine government policies such as the injustices of “The Jones Act” forcing people of Puerto Rico to import 85% of their foodstuffs whereas the island is capable of producing its own food.

Get Started!  

  • Here’s an easy first step — Use these Biodegradable Products in your home and at your places of worship:

Information and Climate Change Data Websites

o   The Climate Reality Project  Our mission is to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every sector of society.

  • National Preparedness Report (fema.gov)  See pages 8 through 10 for information directly related to Climate Change: FEMA Region 2 National Preparedness Division: Climate Adaptation for Houses of Worship  NOTE: FEMA does not give “Disaster Designation” to Heat Waves at this time

For more information on what Union Theological is doing to improve the environment, send an Email to: info@centerforearthethics.org

International Laudato Si’ Movement

Laudato Si’ Movement (laudatosimovement.org)

Recommendations for Book Clubs and Personal Reading:

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson One World; Illustrated edition (September 22, 2020)   All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

 

Generation Dread by Britt Wray Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis by Britt Wray | Goodreads

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 (91) Why the Body is the Land and the Land is the Body: Thoughts and Conversation – YouTube      An interview with Dr. Willie Jennings

Description: While much has been made of the intimate connection between inattention to place and the ecological crisis, very little attention has been given to the troublingly intimate relation between racial reasoning and the denial and destruction of place-centered identity. Dr. Willie James Jennings has been a pioneer in thinking through this neglected topic. Join Dr. Jennings in conversation with John J. Thatamanil, Director of Union’s Insight Project, as they take up this urgent topic.

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