The Poverty of Global Climate Change

Washington, February 21, 2008 – This Earth Day, the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs is marking Earth Day Sunday (the Sunday closest to Earth Day) by recognizing the interconnectedness of poverty and climate change and offering a resource for worship, adult study, and youth activities.

 “By focusing on the interconnectedness between climate and poverty we hope to empower congregations to take action to address climate,” says Cassandra Carmichael, director of Eco-Justice Programs at the National Council of Churches. “Whether that action be through worship, education, lifestyle changes, or public dialog”.

As people of faith, addressing climate change is justice issue. Water scarcity, drought, crop failure, increased disease, and flooding are just a few of the impacts those living in poverty around the world are and will feel from global climate change.

This resource will allow churches and communities of faith to engage these two interrelated issues through their worship, study, and reflection. 

Global climate change is fundamentally altering God’s Creation. 

Although global climate change affects all human populations across the globe, it hits those living in poverty the hardest because they depend on the surrounding physical environment to supply their needs and have limited ability to cope to climate variability and extremes.   

Copies are now available - to obtain a copy visit www.nccecojustice.org, or contact the Eco-Justice Program office at info@nccecojustice.org or 202-481-6943.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228, NCCnews@ncccusa.org