Climate Hope Campaigns
Climate Hope Campaigns are a faith-rooted, multi-generational effort to achieve federal legislation that addresses the twin crises of climate and inequality. For the third straight year, the United Church of Christ (UCC) is undertaking a nationwide Climate Hope Campaign. In 2023, our Climate Hope Cards initiative sought to save thousands of lives, address societal inequities, and get our nation on track to meet its climate goals by collecting thousands of petition postcards that urged the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt the strongest possible protections. As part of a larger coalition, our efforts were successful!
With guidance from our local leaders, we conducted a Climate Hope Voter Pledge campaign in 2024 that engaged and inspired congregations across the country. In 2025, we are continuing and expanding our efforts. Right now, churches are registering to participate in our Climate Hope Art Contest for children and youth. Our theme this year is “Planting Seeds of Hope.” We will take the winning art and place it on advocacy postcards that churches will collect on Climate Hope Sunday in the fall and then deliver to the district offices of a congress member.
As a new initiative this year, we are starting a program called Climate Hope Affiliates. With the inspiration of Sam Daley-Harris’s successful model of transformational advocacy, local chapters across the country are forming to develop ongoing relationships with both the offices of congress members and local media outlets as we seek to advance federal climate justice legislation. If you are interested in your church’s green team becoming a Climate Hope Affiliate, or if you are interested in starting a local chapter in your community, send an email to the Rev. Brooks Berndt.
THE WINNING CLIMATE HOPE ART FOR 2024
Want to see all the art contest finalists for 2024? Check out this video!
This Is Who We Are: Environmental Justice in Action
The care of God’s creation is a central calling of Christians and has found unique expression in the life of the United Church of Christ. Leaders from the UCC were integral to the launch of the environmental justice movement in the 1980s with its pioneering focus on environmental racism. Through General Synod resolutions, we have repeatedly stepped forward to lead the way as people of faith on critical matters such fossil fuel divestment, mountaintop removal, and the Green New Deal. Today, congregations throughout the country have answered our first calling as Christians in tending to God’s creation by becoming Creation Justice Churches. Through webinars, newsletters, reports, and more, we stay connected and informed. Learn more about our denomination’s Environmental Justice Ministries!
Why We Are Called to Climate Action
One could argue that all of us have a self-interest in doing everything we can to address the climate crisis. As Christians, however, we are called beyond our individual lives to love our neighbor and to care for all of God’s creation. To be in right relationship with our neighbors and God’s creation is ultimately at the heart of being in right relationship with God. To put it more succinctly, when we talk about what it means to be in right relationship we are talking about justice. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to put justice into action.
Today, justice takes many different and interconnected forms. We see this especially in the climate crisis. The burdens of pollution do not fall on everyone equally. Climate-related disasters do not affect everyone the same. Race, poverty, and other societal inequities all play a role in who currently suffers the most and who faces the greatest impending dangers. Often those who have contributed the least to climate change are those who are impacted the most.