Climate Change

The Earth is a sacred trust. We recognize God’s call…to draw on the Earth’s sustenance responsibly, and to care for it that all may benefit equitably now and in the future.

—from One Earth Community (1992)

What We Believe

A New Creed calls us “to live with respect in Creation.” Creation is a gift of God, and caring for Creation is a spiritual commitment. We cherish Creation’s rich diversity and respect its inherent value and right to protection.

Climate change impacts us, the local eco-systems of which we are part, and partners the United Church is connected with around the globe. The greatest burden of climate change is falling on people in the Far North and global South—those who have contributed least to the problem.

Indigenous voices in the church remind us that we are called upon to look after Creator’s gifts and to pass along these gifts to our children. We can be part of a just transition to a renewable energy economy by pressuring governments and industries, ending unsustainable overconsumption through lifestyle choices, and working with United Church ministries and partners engaged in climate justice.

What You Can Do

1. Participate in the education, theological reflection, and advocacy efforts of the National Ecumenical For the Love of Creation campaign for Climate Justice
2. Celebrate Creation in worship, while committing to action for its well-being, with the use of these resources:
   • Earth Hour (the fourth or fifth Saturday of March)
   • Earth Sunday (the Sunday closest to April 22)
   • Environment Sunday (the Sunday closest to June 5)
   • Indigenous Sunday (the Sunday closest to June 21)
   • Creation Time in the Season of Pentecost (five Sundays in September and early October)
   • Thanksgiving Sunday (the second Sunday in October)
   • World Food Sunday (the third Sunday in October)
3. Advocate for change to climate change policy with the Canadian government and other decision-makers. Visit Act Now for timely opportunities to take action.
4. Climate Strikes (Fridays for Future). Participate in this worldwide, youth-led movement to demand real and immediate action to solve the climate crisis. Climate strikes are held in communities across the globe on Fridays. You can find like-minded people and groups to connect with through Fridays for Future Canada.
5. Reduce the environmental impact of your faith community's buildings. Faithful Footprints offers United Church congregations inspiration, tools, and grants to help the church and its communities of faith live our climate commitments.
6. Learn more about the role people of faith play in climate justice:
   • Read The United Church of Canada’s first sustainability report (2020), “Living with Respect in Creation,” for examples of how it is putting its house in order, raising its spirited voices, and reconnecting with the earth, featuring examples from across the country.
   • Join the United Church e-mail network Concerned for Climate Justice.
   • Look for ideas in the World Council of Churches “Walk the Talk” toolkit to promote an economy of life and ecological justice.
   • Engage in watershed discipleship—a process of learning more about our place (our watershed) and the injustices that affect it.
   • Learn more about Mining and Resource Extraction and Fracking.
   • Attend a United Church camp that offers programming and initiatives related to the environment and climate change (more information available under Downloads, below).
   • Research policy decisions related to the environment and ecology on United Church Commons.
   • View Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home (2015).
   • Read KAIROS Canada’s backgrounders on key climate justice issues.

Religious leaders in ecumenical celebration for Creation at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, during COP21 climate talks, 2015.

Credit: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/LWF

The Work of Our Networks and Partners

• For the Love of Creation
• Climate Action Network
• Citizens for Public Justice
• KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
• Faithful Footprints
• United Church Camps
• Faith & the Common Good

For more information, contact  justice@united-church.ca