Comfort is one of the most important values of Americans and Slightly Less Comfortable Earth Friendly Resolutions for 2023
In her 2022 All Saints Day sermon, Pastor Nancy Petty reminded the Pullen family to consider the tremendous impacts that our very comfortable American lifestyle has on the poor and on God’s Creation. She pointed out that the average adult American spends $18,000 annually on non-essentials. Clearly this indicates that comfort is one of the most important values of many Americans. We savor two types of comforts: physical and social.
Physical comforts such as personal grooming products, online shopping, gourmet coffees, bottled water, takeout and food delivery, stylish wardrobes, well furnished homes, long showers, large cars, and long distance travel are easy to observe in our lives. Many of these comforts are the reason that the US, which is 4.3% of the world population, consumes 20.3% of the world’s oil annually and is second only to China in total annual CO2 emissions. Today, the average per capita carbon footprint for the US is 16 tons/year compared to a worldwide average footprint of 4 tons/year. We must do better!
The “social comforts” that Nancy Petty spoke of are less obvious because we avoid conversations about uncomfortable issues such as racism, environmental injustice and climate change. Less affluent communities of color in the US are much more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than wealthier communities. Inhabitants of island nations are forced to leave their homes as the sea level rises. In the Southern Hemisphere, climate migrants flee famine, drought and floods caused by climate change. The people hardest hit by climate change are innocent victims. Yet, there is no international treaty that grants climate migrants asylum in other countries. It is American demand for a “comfortable”, unsustainable lifestyle that is largely responsible for climate change.
Slightly Less Comfortable Earth Friendly Resolutions for 2023
At the start of this New Year, Pullen’s Earth Ministry team challenges the Pullen family to examine our excess physical comforts and acknowledge our contributions to climate change, environmental injustice and associated burdens on the poor. Let’s recognize the difference between our needs and wants. Here are some ideas and resources that will protect God’s Creation and promote more sustainable lifestyles By changing our diet, reducing our food waste and reducing our use of fossil fuels we can dramatically reduce our carbon footprints and slow climate change.
Most people are surprised to learn that dietary choices and food waste have a tremendous impact on our carbon footprint. It turns out that eating less meat, particularly less beef, and reducing food waste are two of the most powerful ways to reduce our carbon footprints. Americans discard 40% of the food grown in this country every year. If you take an inventory of your refrigerator before grocery shopping, you can dramatically reduce food waste. By composting your remaining food waste, you will reduce the amount of food sent to landfills where it decomposes and releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Read more to learn how to: eat more sustainably and reduce and compost food waste: Resources for Diet and Food Waste
Electrical power plants generate most of their electricity by burning coal or natural gas, both of which emit CO2 emissions and contribute to climate change. Nuclear, hydroelectric, solar and wind energy do not contribute to global warming. In North Carolina, it is reasonable to assume that a significant portion of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. There are many opportunities to reduce the use of electricity at home and in our faith community. Review this extensive list of suggestions and get started. Don’t feel like you need to do everything on the list. Start with the items that are easiest to do. Continue to review the list and adopt additional items over time. Think of this list as a long term challenge: Resources for Reducing Use of Fossil Fuels at Home and for Transportation
A home energy audit is a great way to prioritize the implementation of more expensive actions. Compare costs and energy benefits of big ticket items. I found that the cost to replace my 40 year old windows was greater than the cost of solar panels which offered far more energy savings. I chose the solar panels, which now produce 94% of my home energy needs, despite my old windows. (You can schedule a free energy audit with Duke Progress Energy at:
https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/home-energy-house-call )
Climate change is happening faster than expected. It is time to address it. As people of faith we have a moral responsibility to do so. We know what needs to be done and how to do it. Let’s make 2023 the year we choose to take action!
Learn More:
View Pastor Petty’s November 6, 2022 inspiring sermon at: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9188230. The sermon starts 27 minutes into the recording.
Interfaith Creation Care of the Triangle, (A Pullen Mission Group), offers a more in depth program on solutions to climate change. It is a three part online video recording developed for church communities. You can view it at:
Gail Powell
Pullen Earth Ministry Team
December, 2022
