Dear Congregational Leaders,
In September 2019, UISG in Canada released a public statement on the climate emergency on behalf of women religious. Congregations were asked to release the statement in connection with the September 1st World Day of Prayer for Creation. I have heard from various sources that the collaborative work of UISG was a good experience. Such collective action and commitment are inspiring.
In part, the statement identified actions which congregations are already taking in response to climate change. However, as the words “climate emergency” indicate, there is much more to be done to fulfill our moral commitment to the planet and the people of the Global South, both on the part of our congregations and the federal government. This letter offers another opportunity for collaboration.
From September 21 – 23, the Climate Action Summit will take place at the UN. On October 21, a federal election will take place in Canada. This convergence of energies creates an opportunity for action. What if we, as congregations, use the Climate Action Summit as an impetus for collective climate action? Then, once the new federal government is established, delegated members can use our commitment to collective action to advocate for stronger climate change action by the government.
With this in mind, you will find below three proposed actions. The Canadian Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph is inviting you to join us in:
Investing in one or more of the three proposed actions found below (energy benchmarking and audit with follow-up actions, Indigenous-led boreal forest conservation, education of girls overseas)
Informing us of your choices so the collective impact can be shared with the federal government
Advocating with the federal government, provincial governments and municipal governments for greater climate change action
Proposed actions:
1. Energy Benchmarking, Audit and Action can be done in the short-term to achieve significant climate change mitigation impacts. Energy benchmarking shows how each building consumes energy and the audit looks at energy, air quality, food, water, waste and more. Together they point to the most effective things you can do to address the climate emergency. For more information contact “Faith in the Common Good” www.faithcommongood.org. This can apply to older buildings as well as new ones.
2. Indigenous-led Conservation of Boreal Forest is a highly-effective medium-term action for climate change mitigation. Canada’s boreal forest represents about 25% of earth’s remaining intact forest. The soils, wetlands and trees soak up carbon and hold it in storage when the trees are healthy. However, they release carbon when the trees are unhealthy or dying. According to data from Natural Resources Canada, the boreal forest emitted between 20 - 237 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year since 2013
Factors affecting the health of the boreal forest include logging, mining, pests and fires. These factors point to important conservation opportunities for mitigating climate change. New Indigenous-led conservation efforts are helping to keep this valuable ecosystem intact, slowing emissions and increasing carbon storage. Learn more about such efforts at Nature United www.natureunited.ca.
3. Girls’ Education Overseas is an effective long-term response
The education of girls is not just a human right. It is foundational for strengthening communities and local economies. According to the World Bank, women with an education are more likely to work, invest in the wellbeing of their family, create economic growth and develop their communities. But girls’ education is also important for climate change response because it creates greater climate change resilience. Women in the Global South often manage food, soil, trees and water in their communities. With more education, they will be able to combine traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge to sustain their communities as they respond to natural disasters and other climate change impacts. Often simple investments such as the provision of a family stipend or a bike to get a girl to school can make a significant difference in removing barriers to education for girls.
For overseas projects focused on girls’ education, see https://secure.unicef.ca/donate. (UNICEF has a Canadian office to which donations can be sent). Also, donations to a school for girls in South Sudan can be made through Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan (CASS) www.casscanada.ca.
If you would like to explore other possibilities for climate change mitigation, see the book Drawdown, edited by Paul Hawken.
Please let us know if your congregation takes on any of these commitments. Contact Sue Wilson, CSJ swilson@csjcanada.org.
Together, we can have a significant impact for climate change mitigation while also creating a strong platform for advocacy on the climate emergency.
Sincerely,
Sue Wilson, CSJ
Office for Systemic Justice
Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Download a copy of the Letter on Climate Action here.
