This conversation between climate leaders was hosted by Sojourners, a platform dedicated to uplifting women leaders. This webinar centers around the unique role that the faith communities can and must play in engaging people to work toward climate justice. The panel includes Alaura Carter, Climate Justice Associate at Sojourners, Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of the U.S. Climate Action Network, and Shantha Ready Alonso, Executive Director of Climate Justice Ministries. They discuss the importance of storytelling, community building and supporting under-resourced communities and communities of color, which are often those hit first and hardest by climate change. Santha shares that “We do have to talk about the environment…but we also have to focus on the people that are taking care of the environment,” highlighting those who are living on the front lines of climate anomalies and the importance of educating them about their rights. The panel discusses how many churches are already on the front lines of responding to climate injustice. They are already mobilized around hunger, disaster response, water protection, and poverty, hence such community leaders have a critical role to educate and respond to climate change at the local level. Compassion, problem solving, and creativity are cornerstones we need to build resilience, capacity, and community.
