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Class 5: Who Is Going To Save Us?

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1. DEVELOPING A COMMON LANGUAGE:

Technology is defined as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry and includes the machinery and equipment developed. (Oxford Languages)
Carbon Capture Technology refers to machinery that can trap emissions and bury them underground. Trees naturally perform this function.
The United Nations was founded in 1945 as an international organization committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights.
The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change established by the United Nations in 1988.
Greenwashing is a form of marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly. Wikipedia

2. THE UNITED NATIONS

The UN Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC)
The United Nations formed the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988 to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments (usually about every 7 years) on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options. Through its assessments, the IPCC determines the state of knowledge on climate change. It has produced six Assessment Reports as of 2022. Thousands of scientists from all over the world contribute to the work of the IPCC. The panel divides each assessment into three reports. Regarding the 6th and most recent assessment, t
he first
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report on what’s driving global warming, came out August of 2021.
The second
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, on climate change’s effects on our world and our ability to adapt to them, was released in February, 2022. The third, on how we can cut emissions and limit further warming was released on April 4, 2022 and this information is from that report. It was compiled by 278 experts from 65 countries.
World on ‘fast track to climate disaster’, says UN Secretary General
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Quote from a New York Times article on the 6th IPCC assessment, entitled Stopping Climate Change Is Doable, but Time Is Short, U.N. Panel Warns by
Brad Plumer
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and
Raymond Zhong
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, April 4, 2022
“The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of experts convened by the United Nations, warns that unless countries drastically accelerate efforts over the next few years to slash their emissions from coal, oil and natural gas, the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, will likely be out of reach by the end of this decade.
That’s the threshold beyond which scientists say the
dangers of global warming
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— including worsening floods, droughts, wildfires and ecosystem collapse — grow considerably. Humans have already heated the planet by an average of 1.1 degrees Celsius since the 19th century, largely by burning fossil fuels for energy.
But the task is daunting: Holding warming
to just 1.5 degrees Celsius
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would require nations to collectively reduce their planet-warming emissions roughly 43 percent by 2030 and to stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere altogether by the early 2050s, the report found. By contrast, current policies by governments are only expected to reduce global emissions by a few percentage points this decade. Last year, fossil fuel emissions worldwide
rebounded to near-record highs
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after a brief dip as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.”

3. GOVERNMENTS

The April 4th, 2022 IPCC report suggests ways that governments from all countries can create and implement policy to support the healing of the Earth. Clearly, governments have their work cut out for them. Policy making takes time and lots of negotiating. Time is of essence.
Excerpts from New York Times article Stopping Climate Change Is Doable, but Time Is Short, U.N. Panel Warns by
Brad Plumer
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and
Raymond Zhong
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“The new report examines dozens of strategies proposed by scientists and energy experts to help nations make the transition.
First, countries would need to clean up virtually all power plants worldwide that generate electricity for homes and factories. That means relying more on wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal or hydropower. Most of the world’s coal and natural gas plants would either need to shut down or install
carbon capture technology
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that can trap emissions and bury them underground. Such technology has been slow to take off because of its high costs.
The next step would be to reconfigure transportation, industry and other segments of the global economy to run on clean electricity rather than fossil fuels. Cars powered by gasoline could be replaced with electric vehicles charged by low-carbon grids. Gas-burning furnaces in homes could be swapped out for electric heat pumps. Instead of burning coal, steel mills could shift to electric furnaces that melt scrap.
At the same time, nations could take steps to reduce their total energy demand. That could entail expanding public transit, upgrading insulation so homes consume less energy, recycling more raw materials and making factories more energy efficient. At the high end, such demand-side policies could help cut emissions in key sectors as much as 40 to 70 percent by 2050, the report notes.
But many economic activities can’t be easily electrified. Batteries are still too heavy for most airplanes. Many industries, like cement and glass, require extreme heat and currently burn coal or gas. For those emissions, governments and businesses will have to develop new fuels and industrial processes, the report said.
Countries will also need to address emissions from deforestation and agriculture, which account for around a fifth of global greenhouse gases. That means dealing with issues like global meat production, which emits methane and carbon dioxide, and is causing
rampant deforestation
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in vital places like the Amazon rainforest.
Forests and wetlands naturally store carbon dioxide, which makes sparing them from destruction a highly effective and economical way to mitigate warming, said Stephanie Roe, a World Wildlife Fund scientist who helped write the report. “I can’t reiterate enough the importance of conserving those ecosystems,” she said.
Even in the best case, humanity is unlikely to eliminate all of its planet warming emissions, the report warned. So countries will likely also have to devise ways to remove billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year by around midcentury. One strategy could be to plant more trees, although that may not be enough, the report cautioned. Other options include
devices that suck carbon out of the air
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, though these technologies are still immature.
The report acknowledges the enormous challenges ahead. Winding down coal, oil and gas projects would mean job losses and financial dislocation. Some climate solutions come with major trade-offs: Protecting forests, for instance, leaves less land for growing crops or raising livestock to feed a world population that keeps growing.”
What is the U.S. federal government doing?
The Fact Sheet on President Biden’s Executive Action to Tackle the climate Crisis at Home and Abroad released on January 27, 2021, included the following seven goals for the U.S. government:
Conserve 30% of lands and oceans by 2030
Create a Civilian Climate Corps Initiative
Increase reforestation
Increase carbon sequestration in agriculture
Protect biodiversity
Increase access to recreation
Address climate change

4**: TECHNOLOGY**

Technology has played a major role in providing alternate forms of renewable energy. Much research and exploration is happening today to find solutions to the many problems we are facing with the climate crisis. Take a look at this trailer of a 10- part series entitled Solving for Zero and based on Bill Gate’s book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. Bill Gates is a major innovator and believes that technology can lead the way. To watch the series you must sign up for Wondrium, but you will get the sense from the trailer and can decide if you want to watch more on your own.
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Many people believe that technology alone will not mitigate the climate crisis. Humanity will also need to change the way we view creation, interact with the world, and care for each other. Charles Eisenstein’s book, Climate: A New Story, suggests that we need to find what we love and then work to restore it to health.

5**: CORPORATIONS** **

Many corporations are making changes in the way they source, manufacture and distribute goods to respond to the climate crisis. Some of these changes can make a difference and some are just marketing, often called greenwashing. Sorting out the truth and holding corporations accountable are challenging tasks.
The fossil fuel industry has responded in many cases by distributing information that denies the effects of emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. We must hold these corporations accountable for continuing to do harm to Earth and humanity when the science is clear.
The banking industry plays a major role by financing fossil fuel corporations in new wells and development. Many people are changing their bank affiliations and changing their investment strategies to avoid supporting corporations that are making the climate crisis worse.
Corporations must take responsibility for putting the well-being of Earth and humanity above profits, and we as consumers must hold them responsible.

6**: NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO’s)**

Some common characteristics of NGOs are:
They are formed voluntarily
They are independent of government
They are not for private profit or gain
Their principal is to improve the circumstances and prospects of disadvantaged people
(From Ball, C. and Dunn, L. Non-Governmental Organisations in the Commonwealth: Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice, London: The Commonwealth Foundation, 1994)
NGOs are now playing an important role in framing the environmental policy, mobilizing public support for environmental conservation, and protecting the endangered species of forests and animals. Environmental organizations such as Earth Watch and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have been successful in creating awareness about the environmental dangers in using drift nets in the commercial fishing industry. (From an article entitled Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) in Environment Protection by Puja Mondal.)

7**: FAITH COMMUNITIES** **

Catholic Laudato Si’:
In 2015 Pope Francis of the Catholic Faith “published an encyclical for the world laying out a vision of integral ecology that includes listening and responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor, which can never be separated from each other for true and authentic ecological action. “ In 2022 the message is being rolled out to communities for implementation over the next seven years as the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP). “The science is clear; time is running short, and we must move to concrete environmental and climate action immediately. If our political leaders are not up to this task, we must start from below, so our goal with the LSAP is to reach a critical mass of people necessary for systemic ecological transformation.” (Dr. Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, coordinator of Ecology and Creation at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.)
The Buddhist community
The Buddhist community in 2015 published: The Time to Act is Now, A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change. This can be viewed in its entirety at
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Here are the closing comments: “We have a brief window of opportunity to take action, to preserve humanity from imminent disaster and to assist the survival of the many diverse and beautiful forms of life on Earth. Future generations, and the other species that share the biosphere with us, have no voice to ask for our compassion, wisdom, and leadership. We must listen to their silence. We must be their voice, too, and act on their behalf.”
United Methodists
United Methodists are also taking action on the climate crisis. The following is taken from the United Methodist Creation Justice website:
https://umcreationjustice.org/
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https://umcreationjustice.org/
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“An Increasing number of United Methodists are responding to the climate crisis by taking action for ecological healing and environmental justice within local churches and communities, through our connectional system, and in partnership with ecumenical, interfaith, and public environmental movements…..The interconnected crises of rising CO2 emissions, climate chaos, biodiversity collapse, land, water, and air pollution, and multiple forms of social inequity, including especially systemic racism, economic injustice, and intergenerational violence, require widespread change at every levelof personal, social, cultural, economic, and political life today…….This website hub has been created to build connections within and partnerships outside the United Methodist Church, to facilitate communication for the sharing of best practices and resources, to increase power through collaborative action, and ultimately to grow the number and impact of Christians engaged in ministries of creation care, renewal, and justice.”
Unitarian Universalist Church
The Unitarian Universalist Church is also taking action on the climate crisis. More information can be found here:
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Faith Plans
“The world's faiths are responding to the 'cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor' by developing Faith Plans for People and Planet – long-term faith commitments to use their buildings, lands, investments and influence to drive practical action to create a better world – for the benefit of people and planet, and for today's and future generations. “
https://www.faithplans.org/
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https://www.faithplans.org/
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Watch this 5-minute video created by Faith Plans and discuss the potential of the faith community to impact this crisis. Remember that a 2009 Harvard study showed that 3.5% is the critical mass needed for radical societal transformation. It is estimated that there are over a million faith-based groups working on saving Earth from the climate crisis.
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8: CAN WE DO IT?

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Additional Resources For Further Study:

Watch this short video on plastic and discuss what might governments do to impact this problem?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3SA4YyEYU
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3SA4YyEYU
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Greta Thunberg is a young activist who for years has been calling on governments to respond to the climate crisis. View
THIS VIDEO
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with Greta and Trevor Noah
Providence Health Care is an example of one corporation that is looking for ways to change their business model to help reduce the climate crisis by moving to carbon negativity. You can read more about this initiative and view their progress reports at
https://www.providence.org/news/uf/664760533
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https://www.providence.org/news/uf/664760533
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This Employee Guide, Drawdown At Work
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, was developed by Project Drawdown so employees can persuade their employers to help solve the climate crisis. The guide enumerates 8 areas where employees can influence their employers:
Emissions Reduction - Including Supply Chain & Historical Emissions
Stakeholder Engagement - Employees, Board, Customers, Local Community
Products & Partnerships - Require Suppliers Are Drawdown Aligned, Circularity & Low-Carbon
Investments & Financing - Climate-Friendly Retirement Plans, Pressure Banks & Insurers to be Drawdown Aligned
Climate Policy Advocacy - Align Political Contributions, Align Lobbying $, Push Trade Associations to Align
Long-Term Thinking - Value Long-Term Thinking Over Short-Term Profits
Climate Disclosures - Publicly Disclose Climate Risks
Business Model Transformation - Embed Climate Considerations in All of Business, Scale Climate Solutions
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall

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CREATION JUSTICE TIPS
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by Crys Zinkiewicz

Are you investing in your values? Scrutinize your portfolio, especially investments that are lumped together. If you find your money is going to support fossil fuels, change to supporting sustainable alternatives—solar and wind, for example. Money talks, and corporations listen.
Invest and divest. Invest in the future, not the past. Your bank account, insurance, or stock portfolio may be supporting the fossil fuel industry. Find out what businesses benefit from your money. If they do not align with your values, divest. Change banks, insurance companies, or stockbrokers and tell them why. Make your money support clean energy and sustainable practices.
Urge local, state, and federal lawmakers to act on behalf of Earth. You may not know the details of a particular bill, but you can speak as person of faith. Describe your vision of what is needed and ask those in power to support what you value.
Vote your values, choosing candidates who will work for people and planet.
Buy green**.** In this market-driven economy, what you buy and what you don’t have an impact. Look for socially responsible businesses and products. Avoid excess packaging and single-use plastics. Choose local to cut down on emissions. Purchase products with recycled content. Boycott ones that come at the expense of the planet. Your dollars speak loudly.
Invest in a better future for all**.** Donate to organizations doing work you believe in but cannot do yourself. Even a small financial gift is put to good use. And the collective return on investment is huge. Explore
350.org
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,
Sierra Club
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, and
Sunrise Movement
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, for example.
Step up to protest actions and inactions that harm our planet, taking our solidarity to city council, state capitols, and Capitol Hill to counter injustice with our very being.
Stand up for truth in the face of those who do not know or who choose their own interests over the much greater good.
Numerous climate justice organizations are doing excellent work. Explore them to continue to educate yourself. You may also choose to sign advocacy petitions, which will be sent to appropriate policy makers, or to support their work financially, knowing that you—through these groups—will continue to make a positive difference.
From COVID-19 we’ve learned that individual efforts are important but not enough. To end a crisis, governments and businesses must change their policies and practices. Individuals and communities need to exert organized pressure on them to act with urgency to curb emissions and move us into a clean future. Speak up!

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