It’s been a few weeks since I have sent out updates! My attention has been centered on the upcoming effort to entreat the United Methodist Church to divest from fossil fuels. The effort, Fossil Free UMC, rises from resolutions passed in different regions of the church (called conferences) that are now going to be before the General Conference (the international body of the church) in March/April.
A couple of things that I have written to contribute to that effort have a more prophetic tone. Those include a Lenten Reflection in Verse, and Plain Talk: This is what’s at stake. The case for divestment. The Plain Talk article is about the reality of what is currently happening to the planet—it’s just the truth. It is designed so you can grab quick links. Basically, when it comes to climate change, I brought the receipts.
Look also to my recent, Submitting Comments & Testimony, a 101 in engaging the public process for people of faith.
Good News in Clean Energy
Who Won The Super Bowl? We Did, Because It Was 100% Powered By Solar, from Clean Technica Also from Clean Technica, good news about heat pumps, Industrial Heat Pumps Are Coming For Your Fossil Fuels
A Native American tribe is building a $1B solar farm in Colorado, from Electrek. A project led by the Ute people designed to bring significant clean energy to the state. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe will construct one of the largest solar farms in the U.S., from KSUT
More solar everywhere, including Ohio. From Elecktech, Ohio’s largest solar farm just came online with 1.4 million solar panels.
This was a fight, wow! Many folks raised a hue and cry when the Postal Service tried to purchase all gas-powered vehicles. The push from faith orgs and the public that the USPS should invest in clean vehicles made a difference. Sierra Club Statement: Postal Service Rolls Out First Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations
Some great emissions and clean energy news out of China. From the Wall Street Journal, China’s Carbon Emissions Are Set to Decline Years Earlier Than Expected. China’s rollout of 300 gigawatts of new wind and solar power last year was for the first time enough to cover its new electricity demand.
Good News in Nature & Biodiversity
The mighty benefits of 'tiny forests'. A tree-planting method that originated in Japan is taking root in many communities, from CBC. In the effort to reclaim nature and boost biodiversity, these tiny forests—some as small as a tennis court—are springing to life.
Indigenous peoples are the brain trust of natural world knowledge and know how for protection, conservation, and land management. Success stories are piling up, with Native communities at the center of many. From Mongabay, First ever U.S. Indigenous Marine Stewardship Area declared in California
Another from Mongabay reporting on and celebrating the efforts of Indigenous people to advocate for Rights of Nature laws that will allow rivers to flow and natural areas to thrive, New guidebook supports U.S. tribal nations in adopting rights-of-nature laws.
Rewilding builds continued success, this time in Argentina and Brazil, where one effort in restore ant eaters enjoyed unexpected gains. Again, this is from Mongabay. A big shout out for their always excellent reporting, Rewilding in Argentina helps giant anteaters return to south Brazil.
Good News in Faith & Climate Change
Good things happening in Georgia! Georgia faith communities organize to combat climate change through local action, from WABE. This effort organized by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light brought all-faiths together to address climate change during a Green Team Summit.
A Lent Vigil in the UK began on Ash Wednesday, Hundreds of Christians take part in 240 hour climate vigil. Former Archbishop calls for urgent climate action, as hundreds of Christians occupy parliament entrance in 240 hour vigil, from Christian Climate Action. And from Independent Catholic News, ICN, Christian climate change campaigners stage 240-hour vigil outside Parliament.
The clean energy ramp-up is moving across the faith community everywhere, ‘It only makes sense’: Houses of worship adding solar arrays, from Michigan Advance. And from Grist, Across the country, houses of worship are going solar. A federal rule makes it easier for churches, synagogues, and mosques to put solar panels on the roof.
A story of resilience, Mexican Methodists respond to climate crisis, from UM News and penned by noted photojournalist Rev. Paul Jeffrey, who works internationally with organizations such as ACT Alliance.
As Pakistan ranks 5th on global climate-vulnerability index, churches pledge action, from Christian Daily, Asia.
Addressing public pollution though public hearing and advocacy, people of faith are petitioning the EPA to clean up the air and address the soot rule. From Earthbeat, Faith leaders call new EPA soot limit a win for vulnerable communities (For a 101 on how people of faith can be part of the public process, see Submitting Comments & Testimony, a 101.)
Creation Care Commuting Builds Community and Reduces Carbon, the successful Bike Bus program at East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church, from the Mennonite Church USA.
A garden home for all, from A Rocha. A lovely post about an A Rosha garden in the Czech Republic that is ‘teeming with life.’
Can we get a ton of applause for the Church in Scotland? They are way ahead and blazing a path for the rest of us. The Methodist Church in Scotland posted this, Net Zero in my Neighbourhood, with links to netzero resources.
Ramadan begins March 10th. Many are planning ahead to address climate themes. Calls for a ‘green’ Ramadan revive Islam’s long tradition of sustainability and care for the planet, from The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Maryland.
In celebration of Black History and the climate movement.
Learn more about Black leadership in the Energy transition. Upcoming webinar, Celebrating Black Leaders in the Energy Transition, organized by the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia, on February 27th.
Celebrating also Dr. Robert D. Bullard whose work at the intersection of racism and environmental justice was the catalyst for continued leadership of Black voices in the environmental movement. From PBS, How Black activists have long used mapmaking to document culture and racism in the U.S. This article is a little older, from September 23, but still a great share. From Scientific American, The Father of Environmental Justice Exposes the Geography of Inequity. Robert D. Bullard reflects on the movement he helped to create.
Many blessings as we begin yet another year at record temperatures, seeking good heart and good hope for the work ahead.
Richenda
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Just to say… my updates are not endorsements, and links are usually third party. Please make your own determinations. My goal here is to amplify the conversation and encourage engagement, learning, and resilience. And of course, to bless your efforts!