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Good Climate News – Part 1 of 2

It’s not all bad news. We’re still far from where we want to be, but we are moving in the right direction, and we are doing better than our worst-case scenario.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is decoupling from our carbon emissions. This trend is also happening in the EU, Japan, Korea, and Australia. The IEA projects that CO2 emissions may be nearing a peak, so the whole world is likely to reach this “absolute decoupling” very soon! It is possible to be both rich and green.

Correspondingly, the mortality rate of children under 5 has dropped. There’s a connection here. We’re all connected. The small actions you’re taking are working and have not been in vain.

The very real and quantifiable benefits of what we’ve achieved so far encourage us to keep going, and there’s plenty of positive momentum out there. — Katharine Hayhoe

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, email [email protected].

The Invasive Species

Most of us believe that if we humans just left nature alone it would do its thing and reset itself to become Eden once again. It turns out this isn’t true, and that nature is telling us a different story. Studies of abandoned areas over large periods of time have revealed that nature does not reset and reach equilibrium or optimum biodiversity. It seems we humans are needed to achieve that. We are a part of nature — not above or below or otherwise separate. We play an important role and our relation to the natural world is complex. Our hope lies in what form our presence will now take. We are the only species that hasn’t learned how to complete a circle of production.

In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. — Aristotle

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, email [email protected].

Mainstreaming Now

Thank you, Netflix, for your documentary “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy.” Movies like this reach millions and bring the issues into the light, into the mainstream. The movie explores the tricks brands use to keep us consuming, and the real impact that has on our lives and the rest of the world. You can watch the trailer here.

Thank you, “Common Ground”, for teaching us about regenerative farming and how filled with hope we really are. You can find out more about the film here.

‘to till and keep’ the garden of the world. ‘Tilling’ refers to cultivating, ploughing or working, while ‘keeping’ means caring, protecting, overseeing and preserving. — Pope Francis (LS67)

For more information about the Laudato Si Circle here at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, email [email protected].

On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, Pope Francis designated calendar year 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope. A Jubilee is one of the most significant events of the Catholic Church, and occurs every 25 years.

The Jubilee has its roots in ancient Israelite tradition. During the ancient Jubilee, prisoners would be released, slaves would be set free, and justice would be restored. It was a time of remembering and living God’s grace. This is a time to reflect on this special year of Jubilee, and how God sets us free to be people of peace, justice and equality.

With the beginning of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, there are many questions the faithful may ask, including what the Jubilee Year of Hope can contribute to our life of faith. The Jubilee Year of Hope offers an extraordinary opportunity to attain salvation and experience that God’s holiness can transform us. During the course of this calendar year, our parish will engage in periodic spiritual activities to celebrate and observe this Jubilee Year of Hope. Please stay tuned!

You can find out more about the Jubilee Year of Hope, including a calendar of world events and prayer resources, here.