Category: Articles

As you may know, the EPA has proposed new standards for coal plants regarding carbon emissions. The proposal will limit emissions by 30% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.

These new standards are a key measure in our collective efforts to reduce climate change. The EPA is accepting comments on this proposal until December 1st.  Click here to take action.

This week the U.S. and China (the world’s two largest polluters) reached a historic agreement on climate change.  Both nations will cut back carbon emissions, with the U.S. reducing levels by 26-28% of 2005 levels by 2025, and China agreeing to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, with 20% of energy coming from renewables.

Together, China and the U.S. are responsible for 45% of global carbon emissions. This historic agreement signals that China is serious about climate change. This could be a game-changer since many politicians have used Chinas uncontrolled emissions as a reason for the U.S. to do nothing. 

While this agreement alone is far from enough, it is a step in the right direction. Let us celebrate and give thanks for this historic step forward.

Here is Bill McKibben’s analysis of this agreement.

Last Spring, thanks to the opportunity provided by New York Interfaith Power & Light, Huguenot Memorial Presbyterian Church (a NYIPL member) screened the film Chasing Ice. A visually engaging and spiritually challenging film, Chasing Ice examines the melting of glaciers and the connection to climate change.

Building on this success, Huguenot church is hosing an environmental film series that is free and open to the public. The next in the series is American Meat, a film intimately examining America’s meat industry including farming methods that respect both people and creation.

Director Graham Meriwether will be available after the screening for further discussion about his work, the film, and the inequality found throughout the meat industry. Don’t miss it!

Additional films in the series include the following:
January 12 – I AM
February 23 – GMO OMG
March 16 – Thomas Berry: The Great Story
April 13 –TBD:  Food Inc. or A Place at the Table

For more information, contact Rev. Jacob Bolton at jbolton@huguenotchurch.org

6:30 p.m.
Huguenot Church
901 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY 10803

To register, go to climate-treaty-event.eventbrite.com.

Click the image to download a printable flyer.

The People’s Climate March will be held on September 21st in Midtown, New York City, and will be the largest climate march in history.  This will be a peaceful, family-friendly event.

Update Sept 13, 2014: 

Below are some details that you may find helpful about the People’s Climate March. 

The march will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 21^st from the Columbus Circle of Manhattan. The route and other logistical information can be found here: www.peoplesclimate.org/logistics.

Please note that signs “on wooden stakes or metal poles” will not be allowed! They are encouraging us to instead use cardboard rolls.  One idea is to go to a fabric store and ask for the cardboard from inside the fabric rolls.

The faith contingent will be gathering at 58^th Street between 8^th and 9^th Avenue. Please join up with NYIPL folks at the Subway Restaurant near 314 West 58th Street (on the block between 8th and 9th Avenues)! Look for our yellow IPL pole, banner, balloons and signs. 

From 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., there will be a pre-march prayer “service” on our block. Musicians and faith leaders will help us reflect and prepare for the march. The faith contingent will be the last of the large contingents to enter the march, probably stepping off at about 1:00, after the Moslem community has had time for their 12:50 prayer. It’s possible that we will enter the march a little earlier (so be prepared!) but this is the thinking at this point.

If you need transportation, go to www.peoplesclimate.org/transportation. If you want to ride the NYIPL bus from Albany, New York, you can click here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-york-interfaith-power-light-pcm-bus-from-albany-tickets-12614611643

Please feel free to bring small bells or another simple instrument, as we will be sounding them together at 1:00 p.m.

If you are interested in going to the interfaith service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 6:00 p.m. after the march, click here to register http://religionsfortheearth.splashthat.com/.  They suggest that you get there at least by 5:00 p.m. because it will be packed.

The march is timed to occur two days before a UN summit on climate change. We want people of faith to turn out in record numbers to show the world that climate change is a moral issue.

With our future on the line and the whole world watching, let’s take a day and use it to bend the course of history.

Feel free to download our Sample Announcement and Newsletter Article (PDF), our Bulletin Insert (PDF) and our Poster (PDF) if you would like materials that you can use to get the word out to your congregation or group.

The march will begin at Columbus Circle, time TBA. Click here for general information or here for information for people of faith if you want more information on the march.

Ride to the march with NYIPL! If you’re in the Capital Region, please join us on our bus from Albany. Or, if you’re coming from other locations and need a ride, click here. Questions about transportation? Call (315) 256-0078.

We look forward to marching with you in September!

For faith communities who can’t attend the march, you can still participate!

There are still things your faith community can do if you can only be at the march in spirit.

“Sound off” outdoors at 1:00 p.m. – houses of worship and others will be ringing bells, sounding shofars, chanting mantras, and offering public calls to prayer at 1:00 p.m. their time in solidarity with marchers. Organizers are suggesting you make your sound for 5 minutes and 50 seconds (350 seconds to signify 350 parts per million of Carbon Dioxide – the highest amount for a stable climate).

Check here for more actions you can take from home!

 

 

One of our newest congregations, the New York Society for Ethical Culture, has been very involved with eco-friendly activities.

The NYSEC recently hosted the PCM’s Faith and Clergy breakfast, a gathering of faith leaders of all denominations from all parts the city, to inspire the climate movement as a spiritual and moral imperative in their congregations.

NYSEC is hosting the New York City screening of “The Future of Energy” on Tuesday, Sept. 16th which will feature a Q & A with the writer/producer Max DeArmon (thefutureofenergy.org) and we are thrilled to be co-hosting along with 350NYC an amazing event on Saturday, September 20th titled: “A Global Climate Treaty: Why the U.S. Must Lead” featuring Bill McKibben, Mary Robinson, Amb. Marlene Moses, Lester Brown and more. Tickets can be purchased at https://climate-treaty-event.eventbrite.com.

Their members will be marching on September 21st and for those not able to march, they will be showing “Do the Math” with a discussion to follow, at our weekly Sunday morning Platform meeting which begin at 11:00 a.m. All are invited.

For the past year, they have partnered with 350NYC to promote programs, speakers and provide access to monthly meeting space. They host 350’s General meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month, their Sustainability working group on the third Wednesday of the month and their Divestment working group on the second Wednesdays -all from7-9 pm.

During this time a growing number of local and regional environmental groups have formed what is known as the New York City Grassroots Alliance which also meets monthly on the first Mondays.

Curt Collier, one of the three Leaders of the Ethical Society, is also Deputy Director of Groundwork USA – an environmental organization founded by the National Park Service and the EPA.  As part of his work Leader Collier travels around the US helping communities remediate brownfields through community action.  He is a frequent speaker on environmental issues and on environmental justice, and heads up the youth programming for Groundwork USA helping inner-city and disadvantaged youth gain valuable work experience in environmental careers.

Congratulations, New York Society for Ethical Culture, on all you do!