Sunday, January 31, 2016

Summary of Activities in 2015 (Stewardship of the Environment Committee)

After a brief hiatus, the Stewardship of the Environment Committee is back with a new constitution and a new vision. We begin the new year with a review of our activities in 2015. As we reflect on the events of last year we are forced to concede that it was a momentous year. People of faith helped to advance climate action both on the world stage and locally.  We are grateful for those who strive to care for creation and for those who worked towards the positive outcome at COP21 and the successful passage of the fossil fuel divestment motion in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal.

The Stewardship of the Environment Committee humbly appreciates all the support that it has received over the last 12 months. We would like to thank the consultants to our committee: Raymond Noel, Diane Norman and Afra Tucker. We would also like to thank Rev. Rhonda Waters, Deborah Tagornak, Henriette Thompson and John Scott for their contributions to our climate justice events in December.

Last year our primary areas of focus were faith and environmentalism, Pope Francis, fossil fuel divestment, and the Paris climate talks. As part of our expanding social media presence we posted 88 articles on our blog, Facebook page and Twitter feed, we supported 9 events and organized 3 actions. During the course of the year we prepared and supported the divestment motion that was passed in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal in October. Along with Christ Church Cathedral, we also organized a speakers conference and candlelight vigil in support of COP21.

Stewardship of the Environment Committee: Summary of Activities in 2015


Direct Actions

Divestment Motion in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Creation Groans: Climate Justice Event (Christ Church Cathedral)
Candlelight Climate Witness Event in Support of COP21 (Christ Church Cathedral)

Events that we supported

Earth Day/Earth Hour
Blue Dot Movement
The 5th Annual Interfaith Eco-Action Day
Global Divestment Day (February 13 & 14)
Justice Tour: Faith Climate Change and Poverty
Anglicans Invited to Eco-Ministry in Costa Rica
Looking for Young People of Faith to be Moral Climate Leaders
A Good Friday Call for Climate Justice
Personalizing the Oil Sands
Pope Francis Creates Global Environmental Day of Prayer
Archbishop Fred Hiltz Fasts for Climate Change

Statements we published

Statement from the Primate on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Anglicans tell Eco-bishops: “Be prophetic, encourage ecological witness”
Archbishop of Capetown: "Climate Change is a Moral and a Justice Issue"
Catholic Sisters Show Support for Climate Action and the Clean Power Plan
The Arctic is the Epicentre of Climate Injustice
What the Climate Movement Must Learn from Religion
Climate Leadership from the Head of the Episcopal Church
Anglican Bishops: “A Call to Urgent Action for Climate Justice”
Rev Jane Shaw Sees Climate Change as the Most Important Issue of our Times
Climate Change is the Top Priority Issue for Sweden’s First Female Archbishop
Science Describes Climate Change While Faith is the Catalyst to Act (Katherine Hayhoe)

Earth Day/Earth Hour 

Earth Day Sermon by Rev. Elizabeth Welch
Earth Day statement by the Primate and Bishop Johnson
Examples of Earth Hour Events in Faith Communities

Blue Dot Movement

Connect the Blue Dots National Day of Action
The Blue Dot Movement Advocating for a Healthy Environment

Pope Francis (Environmental Encyclical)

Pope Francis' Moral Call to Environmental Action
Statement of Support for the Pope's Encyclical from the Anglican Bishop of Quebec
The Environmental Encyclical of Pope Francis Calls for Revolution
Pope's Environmental Encyclical Supports the Poor While Demanding Change from the Rich
Leaked Papal Encyclical Lauds the Climate Movement and Derides Deniers
Science Adds Weight to the Pope's Environmental Encyclical

Fossil fuel divestment 

Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Votes to Divest from Fossil Fuels
Report on Faith Based Divestment from Fossil Fuels
Islamic Leaders Call for a Phaseout of Fossil Fuels and More Renewables
Vatican Climate Conference Calls for a Moral Awakening that Includes Rejecting Fossil Fuels
United Church of Canada Votes to Divest from Fossil Fuels A Role Call of Faith Groups Divesting from Fossil Fuels
Faith Communities Divest Holdings in Fossil Fuel Industry
Why Faith Communities Must Divest from Fossil Fuels
The Religious Imperative for Fossil Fuel Divestment and Reinvestment in a Clean Energy Future
Church of England Adopts New Climate Change and Ethical Investment Policy that Includes Divestment
Episcopal Church Votes to Divest from Fossil Fuels as a Moral Issue
WCC at International Divestment Conference in Paris
Divestment and Reinvestment Resource: Fossil Free Faith
Divest and Reinvest Now! The Religious Imperative for Fossil Fuel Divestment and Reinvestment in a Clean Energy Future
Fossil Fuel Divestment Resources for Faith Communities
Is it ethical to invest in fossil fuels? Reflections from Christian theologians, scientists and environmentalists
Video Summarizing Global Divestment Day (February 13 & 14)
In Addition to Faith Communities Fossil Fuel Divestment is of Interest to Investors Businesses and Power Companies

Canadian federal election

Faith Communities and Divestment and the Canadian National Election in 2015
The President of the CCC Sends Letter to Justin Trudeau Commending him for his Statements on Climate

Divestment motion in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal

Fossil Fuel Divestment Presentation Made at the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
350.org Coverage of the Divestment Motion in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Montreal Anglicans Vote to Divest from Fossil Fuels
The Anglican Diocese of Montreal Votes to Divest from Fossil Fuels
Facts Sheet: Five FAQ about the Motion to Divest from Fossil Fuels in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Why I Support the Divestment from Fossil Fuels Motion in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal
Climate Change and Faith: Why We Are Asking the Diocese to Divest from Fossil Fuel

COP21

Canadian Faith Leaders Call or Climate Justice Ahead of COP21
Almost 2 Million People Sign an Interfaith Climate Justice Petition in Support of a Positive Outcome at COP21
Pray and Act: Call for Climate Justice at COP21
Statement of Faith and Spiritual Leaders on COP21
Pray for COP21
Dalai Lama Calls for Ambitious Climate Agreement at COP21 (Video)
Statement of Faith and Spiritual Leaders on COP21
COP21: Pope's Adviser Urges Catholics to Join Climate Marches
Path to Paris Mary Knoll
COP21 Paris Primer for People of Faith

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