Now what? Staying Engaged and Grow the Interfaith Climate Movement

We were already living in a time of profound consequence. President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement means that while the needs of our endangered climate are increasing, the response to global warming is diminishing at the national level.

Our actions now, as climate conscious people of faith, matter more than ever. There are a few things you can do right now to help maximize our collective impact as North Carolina’s statewide multi-faith network committed to addressing climate change as a moral issue:

Engage your interfaith climate conscious citizenship

Consider getting involved in your congregation’s green team or participate in or start a local regional interfaith working group. Imagine if a consequence of the actions that this administration is making, people of faith rise up stronger and more organized and committed than ever in the fight to protect our common home. We must grow in numbers and knowledge; as North Carolinians, we have a unique leadership role to play on the front lines of climate action in the United States.

Start where you are

Have you had an energy audit of your home or house of worship? Are you letting members of your congregation and community know about incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades? Are you maximizing the solar potential of your roof? Check out NCIPL’s emPOWERed: A Comprehensive Energy Program for Congregations resources. Our abilities to think globally while acting locally will be what makes the difference for our own lives today and the future of all lives tomorrow.

Stand up for civilization, interfaith respect, and justice

By standing up for the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, by working together with neighboring faith communities different from our own, by advocating for green jobs and 100% clean energy, we are not only fighting climate change but we are also working for a better, healthier, and safer world for everyone.

No matter what happens in Washington, DC, the interfaith movement in North Carolina can grow wiser with your help, and by our actions we can help heal an ailing world.