Today Pope Francis arrives in the United States, and people of faith have kicked off a Week of Moral Action for Climate Justice to coincide with the Pope's six-day visit. Unitarian Universalists and thousands of other people of faith and conscience are joining the Franciscan Action Network and Moral Action on Climate in witnessing in solidarity with Pope Francis's moral position on climate change. 

As part of the events, two members of Unitarian Universalist Young Adults for Climate Justice have been fasting for two weeks, demanding that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issue no new permits for interstate fossil fuel infrastructure. For four more days these activists will continue to encamp on the sidewalk outside of the commission.

Add your voice to this week of moral action by joining or hosting a solidarity event in your community. Register your faithful event with the Franciscan Action Network and add it to the Moral Action on Climate map of solidarity events. You can use the Commit2Respond event page to publicize your event.

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This week is just the beginning of a year of collective action for climate justice. Don't miss these opportunities to join together with people of faith and conscience and take action to shift to a low carbon future, advance the human rights of frontlines communities, and grow the climate justice movement:

Indigenous Peoples Day
In June we witnessed with Lummi Nation in Washington State, who are fighting to keep the largest coal port in North America from being built on their sacred lands. Our partnership with Lummi Nation played a key role in the 2015 Totem Pole Journey, which built connections, solidarity, and resistance to the fossil fuels industry among Indigenous communities and people of faith.

On October 12 our witness continues. Join people of faith and conscience in reimagining Columbus Day, deepening relationships with Indigenous communities, raising awareness of the impacts of environmental destruction on Indigenous peoples, and advancing Indigenous rights. Honor Indigenous Peoples Day.


United Nations Climate Change Conference
The international United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place in Paris, France, from November 30 to December 11, 2015, and people of faith and conscience are taking action to pressure leaders to take decisive, urgent action. 

In June, Unitarian Universalists passed an Action of Immediate Witness on climate change calling for immediate action to support a strong, compassionate, fair, ambitious, binding, and enforceable international climate agreement, and in August Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, penned a letter urging the U.S. Department of State to do exactly that. A Unitarian Universalist delegation to Paris will carry this moral charge to the UN conference. How will you take action?


Climate Justice Month 2016
From World Water Day (March 22) through Earth Day (April 22), Unitarian Universalists and other people of faith and conscience are invited to take collective action for climate justice, in our congregations, faith groups, teams, and families.

Building on Climate Justice Month 2015, which focused on spiritual grounding and making commitments, Climate Justice Month 2016 will focus on living into our commitments through collective action. Sign up, save the date, and mobilize the groups you are part of to join Climate Justice Month! 

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United in collective action, connected through partnership, we will change the world. Thank you for committing to respond!

In faith,
Your fellow Commit2Respond leaders