U.S. Churches Answer UNFCCC’s Call to Climate Action
As the United Nation's climate conference in Lima came to a close, Christina Figueres voiced one final plea to religious leaders around the world. Once again the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary has urged faith leaders to ‘find their voice' in the climate talks by advising their congregations to make changes to their respective facilities.
If you're wondering what your congregation can do to answer the call, take a note from Ohio Presbyterian Pastor, Rob Martin, who reduced his church's energy consumption by 20% in the last 12 months. Apart from saving his congregation money, these actions have stopped 9.2 metric tons of greenhouse gasses from being dispersed into the atmosphere.
With assistance from Blessed Tomorrow's partner, Interfaith Power and Light, Rev. Martin was able to install a new boiler system; insulate some drafty windows; and replace the church lights with energy efficient LED bulbs. While these changes may have won him the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR National Building Competition, Martin doesn't plan on stopping his progress and hopes to reach out to other congregations that wish to follow suit.
For more on how to answer the UNFCCC's plea to cut carbon emissions and spread a Path-to-Positive message for climate action, checkout the short podcast below or visit momentus.org.
UN Calls on Religious Leaders
By Charlotta Lomas for DW
In the lead up to the climate negotiations in Paris next year, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has called on religious groups around the world to tackle climate change. UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres has urged religious leaders to “find their voice on climate change” and to “set their moral compass.” DW speaks to UNFCCC's Nick Nuttall.