Catholic Climate Covenant

THE CATHOLIC CLIMATE COVENANT INSPIRES AND EQUIPS PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS TO CARE FOR CREATION AND CARE FOR THE POOR. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)

THE COVENANTS CATHOLIC ENERGIES PROGRAM DEVELOPED SEVERAL SOLAR AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS FOR CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THESE INCLUDE SOLAR PROJECTS AT SEVEN CATHOLIC ENTITIES IN THE DIOCESE OF RICHMOND THAT ARE EXPECTED TO OFFSET MORE THAN 45,000 METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES ABOUT THAT OF AN AVERAGE PASSENGER CAR DRIVEN 100 MILLION MILES OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS, AND 3 IN THE DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON THAT WILL COLLECTIVELY OFFSET THE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS PRODUCED BY POWERING 3,500 HOMES FOR A YEAR OR BURNING 15,000 TONS OF COAL. JUST AS ATTRACTIVE TO THEIR FINANCE COUNCILS, THE SOLAR PROJECTS CAME AT NO COST AND FORECAST SIZEABLE SAVINGS. THESE AND OTHER PROJECTS HELPED CATHOLIC-OWNED PROPERTIES REDUCE ENERGY USAGE, SAVE MONEY THAT CAN NOW BE USED FOR OTHER MINISTRIES, AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR BENEFIT TO THE ORGANIZATION, THE CHURCH, AND OUR DUTY TO CARE FOR CREATION.

IN FY2021, BOLSTERED BY THE ENDORSEMENTS BY THE VATICAN AND THE USCCB TO BE THE LEAD ORGANIZER FOR THE LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM, THE COVENANT ADVISED THE GLOBAL EFFORT, CONVENED REGULAR MEETINGS WITH US CATHOLICS LEADING CARE FOR CREATION EFFORTS IN THEIR DIOCESES AND PARISHES; CREATED, THE WEBSITE WWW.GODSPLANET.US IN THE SERVICE OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC TO INSPIRE, SHOWCASE, EDUCATE AND EQUIP US INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE 7 SECTORS; AND HOSTED SEVERAL WEBINARS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE PLATFORM. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE NUMBER OF PARISHES AND DIOCESES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONVENINGS HAS GROWN AND CONTINUES TO INCREASE TODAY. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO EDUCATE OUR CONSTITUENCY ON CARE FOR CREATION ISSUES DURING THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC, THROUGH WEBINARS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF CREATION AND EARTH DAY, WHICH WERE DOWNLOADED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

IN FY2021, THE COVENANT HIRED ANNA ROBERTSON TO CREATE A NEW YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MOBILIZATION PROGRAM TO INSPIRE, ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE CATHOLIC YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES DESIRING TO ANSWER THE CHURCHS CALL TO CARE FOR CREATION AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS, AND TO ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH. THROUGH RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, CONVERSATIONS, WEBINARS AND OTHER OUTREACH, THE PROGRAM HAS CREATED A DEDICATED AND DIVERSE COHORT OF YOUNG ADULTS WHO COLLABORATIVELY ARE BUILDING COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING PROGRAMMING, AND EXPANDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE INSPIRING OTHER YOUNG ADULT CATHOLICS TO JOIN THE EFFORT. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO WORKING WITH DIVERSE INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE U.S. CATHOLIC CHURCH TO REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF PERSPECTIVES AND STRENGTHS WITHIN IT.