….REQUEST TO CALCULATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT….
As Quakers, we are called to work for the peaceable Kingdom of God on the whole Earth, in right sharing with all peoples. We recognize a moral duty to cherish Creation for future generations.
As Quakers, we understand anthropogenic climate change (climate change due to human activities) to be a symptom of a greater challenge: how to live sustainably and justly on this Earth. We recognize that the current rise of greenhouse gas emissions is leading to an unprecedented rate of increase in global average surface temperature of extreme detriment to the Earth’s ecosystems and species, including human beings.
In keeping with the discernments of the shared Quaker statement, “Facing the Challenge of Climate Change“, we recognize our need to limit our carbon emissions into the atmosphere to the amount of carbon that can be sequestered out of the atmosphere. In the spirit of “Right Sharing”(http://www.rswr.org/), the global limit of what humans can emit without increasing the concentration of carbon needs to be equitably shared among the world’s population.
With so much at stake, BYM’s Unity with Nature Committee requests that BYM worshipers seek to determine their own carbon footprint as a witness to the impact of our own actions and a guide to taking steps to reduce our carbon emissions. We might also examine the carbon footprints of our local Friends meetings. This process will be challenging, interesting and meaningful. It will deepen our understanding of the consequences of our behaviors and help us prioritize our next steps on the path to a sustainable and just world for our children and for people who are most vulnerable to climate change.
Carbon Footprint Calculator Fact Sheet
The Unity with Nature Committee’s Carbon Footprint Working Group has prepared descriptions of a few calculators and methodologies to measure household or congregational carbon footprints. Because our knowledge is still evolving, we welcome others’ insights and knowledge. Therefore, we also request that you also search or share additional ways to achieve this knowledge. In the spirit of ongoing revelation, together we can build the knowledge we need to make ethical decisions to guide our NEXT STEPS on a path towards a supportive relationship with the life resilience we are blessed to experience.
Carbon Footprint Working Group, BYM Unity with Nature Committee
June 2016
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