The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is collecting “real stories” of how catholic individuals, groups and organizations are living out the five tenants of the St. Francis Pledge to Protect Creation and the Poor. Visit http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/real-stories/ to see how others are praying, learning, assessing, acting, and advocating to fulfill their commitment.
The Oregon Province’s Regional Sustainable Development Plan of Action is an excellent reference for parishes and communities looking to establish successful, ecologically sound programs. The plan establishes a definition of sustainable development and outlines criteria for planning and implementing projects.
Read about Jesuit Universities’ efforts to increase sustainability on their campuses in the April 2009 issue of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities’ Connections, entitled “Sustainability on Our Campuses”
The National Catholic Rural Life Congress has begun an on-line inventory of sustainability practices and programs initiated by religious communities. They are currently augmenting the list to include other Catholic institutions like schools parishes and dioceses.
Start small groups like Boston College’s Ecopledge that focus on ways to make schools greener and more sustainable institutions. Read more about this award winning student organization in “Person of the Year: the Ladies of Ecopledge”.
Visit Notre Dame’s office of sustainability homepage for a thorough and well-formatted overview of what the university is doing to make their campus more ecologically sound. http://green.nd.edu/
Check out Gonzaga University’s sustainability homepage with links to campus initiatives, recycling programs, news, academes & research, and stewardship. The site is an excellent example of the many steps universities and communities can take to make a positive impact on the environment.
The Notebook Project takes cereal box-type cardboard (pressed board) and used, one-sided paper, and binds them into notebooks that are sold at CCASL and the campus book store. Profits fund Earthbound.
Earthbound is GU’s student-run after school environmental education program in local elementary and middle schools.
Host a viewing of the video Covenant: A Film about Faith in Action, a short film about people of faith from diverse religious traditions coming together to fight for clean air from Interfaith Power and Light. In 2006, 19 conventional coal-fired power plants were proposed to be built in Texas and were being fast-tracked by the Governor. Covenant illuminates how a handful of religious leaders put their faith into action and helped organize a grassroots movement that eventually led to a reduction in proposed plants, which went from 19 down to 11. Click here to watch the video on-line or you can to request a free DVD copy for your congregation.
College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA has established a goal of reducing carbon gas emissions 20 percent by 2015 and reaching carbon neutrality by 2040. See their video. In 2007, Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J., president, signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, promising that Holy Cross will reduce its carbon emissions over the coming decades, and eventually become carbon neutral. See the Holy Cross Carbon Neutral Plan.
Notre Dame’s Office of Sustainability’s website has a virtual Green Dorm Room with suggestions about ways to conserve energy, resources, and reducing your carbon footprint! Check it out here and look at all the other great ideas and resources they offer.
Santa Clara University has excellent information on their website for anyone interested in conducting an energy, resource, water or waste audit. The University’s Sustainability Assessment, completed by undergraduates working with the Office of Sustainability in 2007, was designed to assemble baseline data regarding fuel use, water consumption, waste production, and use of toxic chemicals. Learn more about SCU’s assessment here. What about forming a “Sustainability Council” comprised of students, faculty, and staff to “develop a culture of sustainability” at your school/campus as SCU has done? See this and other activities at their Office of Sustainability website.
Saint Joseph’s University in the Pennsylvania, USA shared with Ecojesuit it’s recently held technical workshop on land management, focusing on storm water strategies and sustainability techniques for built environments and developed and natural lands.
The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (MN) — both Catholic Climate Covenant Partners—offer a number of resources which demonstrate how CSB/SJU continue to integrate Catholic mission-based sustainability into across all aspects of college/university life. In addition to seeing what CSB/SJU is doing, their resources can help give you ideas on how your school might work to do the same.
The Red = Green Sustainability Initiative at Fairfield University is committed to the belief that all humans have a responsibility for all creation, Fairfield has developed a strategic plan to infuse sustainability throughout its departments, programs, and infrastructure.
