Climate Change:
"Go Green" to Reduce Poverty in America
Care for the earth, a requirement of our faith
Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet and to live our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation.
"Today the great gift of God’s Creation is exposed to serious dangers and lifestyles which can degrade it. Environmental pollution is making particularly unsustainable the lives of the poor of the world … we must pledge ourselves to take care of creation and to share its resources in solidarity."
— Pope Benedict XVI
Easy steps you can take
Catholic Charities USA’s national office in Alexandria, VA, is mindful of our impact on the environment. Here are some of the actions we take that you can replicate at your home and/or office:
- Setting our default printer settings to double-sided printing.
- Providing white paper recycling bins next to every desk trash can.
- Providing glass and aluminum can recycling bins in central locations throughout the office.
- Making sure kitchen appliances meet energy efficiency standards.
- Buying only fair trade and organic coffee and tea.
- Providing reusable coffee mugs instead of paper or Styrofoam.
- Replacing bottled water with filtered tap water.
- Providing public transportation incentives for staff.
- Installing sensors on office lights to automatically turn off when rooms are empty.
- Purchasing and printing on recycled paper.
- Recycling toner cartridges and outdated electronics.
- Holding conference calls and Webinars to avoid travel.
- Sending e-solicitations to donors instead of hard copy mailings.
- Providing reusable grocery bags as conference bags at our Annual Gathering.
- Reducing the length of printed promotional brochures and booklets.
Why should we care?
Catholic Charities USA is committed to reducing poverty by 50 percent by the year 2020. The poor and economically insecure likely contribute the least to the current energy and climate crisis. However, they will suffer both the short- and long-term consequences from climate change.
We can’t reduce poverty without addressing our human impact on the environment and changing climates.
How are local Catholic Charities responding?
Catholic Social Services in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Climate Change: Why Should Catholic Charities Care? 
Charities USA, Spring 2009, Rob Gorman, Executive Director
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton
Environmental Justice in the Diocese of Stockton
Charities USA, Winter 2008, Betsy Reifsnider, Evironmental Justice Coordinator
More Information
- Catholic Coalition on Climate Change
The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change was launched in 2006 to help the Catholic community address the moral implications of climate change. - USCCB Environmental Justice Program
This site provides information to better understand the important connections between our Catholic faith and the environment, and the urgency of addressing the moral and human dimensions of climate change. - Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA's Climate Change Site offers information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments. - Climate Justice: Seeking a Global Ethic
Caritas Internationalis
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