CATHOLIC CLIMATE COVENANT

THE COVENANT'S CATHOLIC ENERGIES PROGRAM DEVELOPED SEVERAL SOLAR AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS FOR CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING ILLINOIS, RHODE ISLAND, VIRGINIA, TEXAS, PUERTO RICO AND NEW YORK. THE SOLAR PROJECTS ALONE WILL OFFSET 100,000 METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES. ALL OF THE PROJECTS CAME AT NO COST TO THE FACILITY OWNERS AS CATHOLIC ENERGIES SECURED INVESTORS WHO OWN THE SOLAR ASSETS. IN ADDITION, ALL PROJECTS WILL HELP SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE ENERGY COSTS, SAVINGS THAT CAN NOW BE USED FOR OTHER MINISTRIES, AND TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR BENEFIT TO THE ORGANIZATION, THE CHURCH, AND OUR DUTY TO CARE FOR CREATION. IN FY2023, THE COVENANT CREATED A YOUNG ADULT MOBILIZATION PROGRAM AND YOUTH MOBILIZATION PROGRAM TO EMPOWER CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH TO FOLLOW THE CALL TO CARE FOR CREATION AND GENERATE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS, FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR CATHOLIC FAITH. THESE PROGRAMS ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THEM TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND ORGANIZE WITHIN THEIR DIOCESES, TO INSPIRE THEIR LOCAL CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS TO COMMIT TO ACTIONS THAT CARE FOR CREATION AND ACT ON CLIMATE. THE PROGRAMS ARE ALSO PROVIDING TRAINING AND RESOURCES SUCH AS THE WHOLE MAKERS CURRICULUM, TO INSPIRE ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION AS ASKED BY SAINT JOHN PAUL II AND POPE FRANCIS. IN FY2021, THE VATICAN AND THE USCCB ASKED THE COVENANT TO LEAD EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE VATICAN'S LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM. THE COVENANT CONTINUES THIS EFFORT INCLUDING ADVISING THE GLOBAL EFFORT, CONVENING REGULAR MEETINGS WITH US CATHOLICS LEADING CARE FOR CREATION EFFORTS IN THEIR DIOCESES AND PARISHES; ENCOURAGING USE OF A US-SPECIFIC WEBSITE WWW.GODSPLANET.US IN THE SERVICE OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC TO INSPIRE, SHOWCASE, EDUCATE AND EQUIP US INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE 7 SECTORS; AND HOSTING WEBINARS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE PLATFORM. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE NUMBER OF PARISHES AND DIOCESES PARTICIPATING IN THE CONVENINGS HAS GROWN AND CONTINUES TO INCREASE TODAY. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO EDUCATE OUR CONSTITUENCY ON CARE FOR CREATION ISSUES THROUGH WEBINARS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF CREATION AND EARTH DAY, WHICH WERE DOWNLOADED BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.