Take Action
Legislatively
In June 2008, the Lieberman-Warner bill (S. 2191), the first serious climate change legislation to be considered, was blocked in the Senate. No new legislation is expected to be taken up until a new session of Congress starts next year. In the mean time, we can build momentum for effective climate change legislation by urging our Representatives to sign on to a "Dear Colleague" letter (PDF) being circulated by Representatives Waxman, Markey, and Inslee that outlines four principles for effective and just climate change legislation. The more Representatives we can get to sign now, the harder it will be for them to settle for weaker legislation later. Plus, we will be sending a message to the Senate.
Urge your Representative to sign the Global Warming Principles letter.
Click here for a running tally of Representatives who have signed on to the climate change principles letter. Let's make it over 100!
Financially
Use your financial resources to encourage corporate social responsibility with respect to global warming/climate change. (See Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Committee on Socially Responsible Investing for suggestions.)
Personally
Make life-style changes that reduce our impact on the environment.
- Consume
less fossil fuel by choosing fuel-efficient appliances, using alternative,
renewable energy sources, choosing the most energy efficient transportation,
reducing waste and recycling. (For ideas, see the Global Warming Action Kit from Unitarian Universalist (UU)
Ministry for Earth.)
- Go on a low-carbon diet. Pledge to reduce your "carbon footprint" (the amount of carbon you produce). The UU Legislative Ministry, California is encouraging UU congregations in their state to lose 5,000 pounds of carbon emissions per household in 60 days. There's no reason why UU congregations in other states can't follow suit. Information is on their Low-Carb Challenge web page.
Interpersonally
Commit to continued education about the science, impact, and mitigation of global warming/climate change and sharing this knowledge with others.
Congregationally
Develop congregational policies/practices that reduce our impact on the environment
- Seek certification through the Green
Sanctuary Program from UU Ministry for Earth.
- Practice environmentally responsible consumption in planning congregational events and
development and create an atmosphere that encourages individual
congregants/families to do the same.
- Incorporate reverence for life into congregational worship and religious education programs. (See suggestions
from UU Ministry for Earth)
- Join or create an interfaith community group devoted to environmental justice.
For more information contact environment @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, June 20, 2008.
