Resources for Personal, Communal, and Collective Action in relation to the season of Christmas.
Compiled by Tora Klassen for the Creation Care Vigil held on 1 December 2023 at Hillside Church of London.
Collective Action
Multi-faceted, global problems require multi-faceted, global solutions. It is so easy to give in to hopelessness about individual actions in the face of impending ecological catastrophe. BUT. Shifting our mindset to one of agency allows us to say, “Climate change is SO BIG, I must do something, and I’m going to do THIS.” Because each action matters. And when we believe that, we can add our actions to the actions of our brothers and sisters around the globe who are also taking action and giving voice to their concerns. Collectively, we can make our voices heard and have a global impact.
Christmas is Connected to Global Issues
* Fossil Fuels *
Celebrating Christmas and the holidays often entails travelling to be with family and loved ones. However, travel by plane is a huge contributor to carbon emissions. Consider travelling by plane as a last resort, even if it takes more time to travel by public transit, carpool, train, or ship. Learn about our dependence on Fossil Fuels, and the impact of extracting and burning them.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a “global effort to foster international cooperation to accelerate a transition to clean energy for everyone.” Endorse the treaty as an individual, and ask civic, national, and global leaders to work towards it as well.
* Clothing and Textile Production *
Sign the Speak Volumes campaign, organized by Stop Waste Colonialism.
* Plastic Production and Its Many Problems *
Sign The Rubbish Campaign petition, organized by Renew Our World.
This open letter to world leaders supports a global plastics treaty to reduce plastic production and clean up plastic pollution.
* Industrial Agriculture *
Global food production is the largest contributor to deforestation, and industrial agriculture and farming practices can be incredibly toxic to air and water, and depleting to the soil.
Amplify the Voices of Those Most Impacted by Climate Change
Indigenous peoples have been living in harmony with Creation for thousands of years. Their wisdom can lead the way to real solutions to climate change, and model for us what Creation Care might look like both here in Canada and all over the world.
Read how Indigenous Leaders All Over the World are Protecting Biodiversity by Ben Powless for Canadian Geographic.
Learn about Indigenous-Led Conservation Initiatives here in Canada.
Kia Mua: Towards a Just Transition for the Pacific
Pacific Island Leaders Call for a Just Transition away from Fossil Fuels in this landmark plan which they will be presenting at COP28. This “report finds that 8 Pacific countries can transition to 100% renewables for less than a 7th of what Australia gave to the fossil fuel industry in handouts and tax breaks in the past year.”
Learn about Waste Colonialism with this 1-page info sheet, then support the efforts of leaders in the Global South who are cleaning up the mess at Stop Waste Colonialism.
Read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass. Try to source your copy from Milkweed Editions, from a local independent bookstore, or secondhand.
Become an Advocate: Prayer is Advocacy before God. Activism is Advocacy to People in Power
Katharine Hayhoe’s FAQ section of her website is a gold mine of resources and ideas. Check out how to increase your climate action impact beyond the “individual carbon footprint.”
Join Christians around the globe in boldly praying for Creation, especially during COP28 (Nov 30 – Dec 12 2023)
* Tearfund shares regular prayer prompts at Prayer for the Climate.
* Climate Intercessors host monthly Zoom prayer sessions.
* Pray and Fast for the Climate, a worldwide inter-denominational initiative that publishes monthly Prayer Points: November 2023
Learn about COP28 – United Nations International Conference on Climate Change
Pray for honesty, integrity, and decisive action from world leaders.
Want more? Challenge your thinking and inspire your action by reading these brilliant articles.
On (Finally) Having Enemies and (Starting to) Love Them at COP28 by Lowell Bliss
I Don’t Care if You Recycle by Mary Annaise Heglar
Lifestyle Choices Aren’t Enough to Save the Planet. Here’s What Could by Michael E. Mann