Catholic Climate Covenant

February 24, 2010

from the Executive director

Pope Benedict Indicts My Carbon Footprint: It is MUCH Heavier than Most

Environmental groups that advocate for population control as a solution to climate change are either intentionally ignoring or completely overlooking an obvious fact: the wealthier you are, the bigger your carbon footprint. In fact, the average American's carbon footprint is 2,000 times more than a poor person in Africa and 80 percent of global emissions come from just 20 percent of the world's population.

With this understanding, the Catholic Church believes that the solution to tackling the climate crisis is not fewer people, but rather the small percentage of relatively wealthy people (that is me and probably you, too) and nations finding ways to consume much less of the world's limited resources. Pope Benedict XVI has made this case repeatedly: "It is all too evident that large numbers of people in different countries and areas of our planet are experiencing increased hardship because of the negligence or refusal of many others to exercise responsible stewardship over the environment" (World Day of Peace Message, 2010, # 7).

Living the St. Francis Pledge is one way to act on the call of Pope Benedict XVI to exercise stewardship of Creation and to reduce my carbon footprint. For further reading and reflection, see "The Good Life from a Catholic Perspective: The Challenge of Consumption" by Msgr. Charles Murphy.

More Lenten Resources from USCCB

Lent: An Opportunity for Solidarity with the Poor

As Lent begins in earnest, it's not too late to deepen our understanding of how prayer and fasting leads to a fuller embrace of solidarity with poor people at home and abroad. In addition to Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also offers excellent resources and video resources here.

Covenant PaRtner

Jesuits Deepen Commitment to God's Creation

The Ignatian Solidarity Network will host the Ignatian Family Spring Teach-In on Environmental Justice and Sustainability March 5-7 at Wheeling Jesuit University. This teach-in is response to, "wide-spread feedback from students and staff at Jesuit high schools, universities and parishes…who are looking at their ecological footprints." Learn what else the Jesuit community is doing: see "Green Times" page of Company magazine.

From AFrican Bishop

Kenyan Bishop Knows the Reality of the Climate Crisis

In a Catholic News Services article, Bishop Peter Kihara Kariuki of Marsabit, Kenya, said that his people are already feeling the effects of a changing climate in serious and significant ways: "It has practically not rained in three years. The population depends on aid from the church, the government and NGOs to eat and drink." Read more here.

ACTION

Invite Other Catholics to Take Climate Change Action

The Catholic community and indeed all of Creation is blessed because you joined the Catholic Climate Covenant and took the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor. We urge you to share your good news with your friends and family. Tell a friend about the St. Francis Pledge. Let them know about this authentically Catholic response to climate change promoting the care of creation and protection of those most vulnerable to climate impacts.

Use Power Strips

Plug in electronics and computers to power strips and save energy by turning off computers when not in use. Set network systems to low-power sleep modes. Shutting down just one computer and monitor system can save up to $100 annually.

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