Climate Change

United Methodist Women learned they are the greatest tools for stemming the tide of harmful changes in the world's climate, during a workshop on the issue at their quadrennial Assembly in St. Louis, Mo., April 30.

"One-by-one, you live it out," said Pam Sparr, a United Methodist Women consultant on environmental issues and facilitator of the workshop. "You serve as a model, an advocate -- you know best what your friends, family, neighbors and your church need to know about climate change. Live life in alignment with your Christian faith."

She encouraged "win-win" solutions to climate change, in which inter-related issues, such as poverty, unemployment, racism, or hunger, are addressed in tandem with climate change. For example, if building affordable housing, why not include solar technology or other energy-saving techniques?

Quick Facts

1. Carbon dioxide accounts for 85 percent of all greenhouse gasses. The No. 1 way to address climate change is to reduce our carbon footprint.
2. Changing five light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) in every household would be equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road.
3. The U.S. Senate will be considering a climate change bill before the summer break in June. The House of Representative has already passed a bill.

What You Can Do

1. Contact your legislature. Send e-mails and letters to your elected officials or call them.
2. Advocate for the environment during a United Methodist Women's unit meeting. Ask everyone to take out her cell phones and call Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of one of her senators. Members can leave a message with the senator's aide who answers the phone or leave a message. It doesn't need to be a long conversation.
3. Tell your senators to make climate change a national priority.
4. Identify yourself and give your town and United Methodist affiliation.

Christie R. House is the editor of New World Outlook magazine.