Women of color and women of faith know that climate change negatively impacts our families, especially our children’s health. Concerned about climate justice, Moms Clean Air Force convened with the Environmental Defense Fund, and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment to co-author a letter: Call for Climate Justice. Our three organizations embraced the common goal of mobilizing women of color faith leaders nationally and in the key states of Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania to examine the intersections of climate, justice, and health
Together, we leveraged our concerns with the call for climate justice, which urges the Biden administration, our elected officials at the state and federal levels, healthcare professionals, and church leaders to implement climate solutions for the benefit of frontline communities.
Specifically, these Black and Brown faith leaders drew on their community perspectives and lived experiences as mothers, grandmothers, and daughters. They bridged their faith with their concerns to provide a unique and powerful collective story in a series of national roundtables and through state-based activity.
Two national roundtable events were held for key women of color faith leaders. The roundtables focused on developing a comprehensive climate message that leans into intersections of justice, health, and faith. During the event, leaders drafted a women of color faith leader letter articulating a call to climate action. After the roundtable, participants and additional women of color faith leaders signed onto the letter.
Following the national roundtable events, a meeting was held with staffers from congressional offices in Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. This meeting demonstrated support from women of color for immediate climate action at the federal level.
The next step is to make certain that the Biden administration and members of Congress from across the nation understand the urgency of taking action to implement climate solutions for the benefit of frontline communities.
During the 40 days of Lent in 2023, Women of Color, Women of Faith are reaffirming their faith and expressing their concerns for planet Earth because:
“Creation is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude.” —Pope Francis
Weekly during Lent, we will highlight either a signer’s motivation for joining the open letter or a quote from the letter. Follow Moms Clean Air Force on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to see these posts and spread the word.