From the Michigan Climate Action Network:
Climate change is exacerbating a range of threats to the Great Lakes. A new low ice cover record in January 2021 was just reached in the Great Lakes. Rapid transitions between high and low water levels represent the “new normal.” Heavier rainfall is increasing runoff from farms and cities, which leads to more nitrates, phosphates, E Coli, and other pollutants entering waterways. This pollution contributes to beach closings and algae blooms like the harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie that shut down Toledo’s drinking water supply in 2014. Increased temperatures have also reduced winter ice cover on the Great Lakes, which may lengthen the commercial navigation system but also may allow more evaporation to occur causing lake levels to decline. Climate change is also changing the range and distribution of certain fish species, allowing more invasive species, and degrading beach health.
Interfaith Power and Light is an organization dedicated to encouraging people of faith to get involved in advocating for the health and future of our world. From their website:
Global warming is one of the biggest threats facing humanity today. The web of life — life that people of faith and conscience are called to protect — is jeopardized by our continued use of fossil fuels for energy. Every major religion has a mandate to care for Creation. We are blessed with this interconnected web of life, and we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards and preserve it for future generations.
For two decades, IPL has been helping congregations address global warming by being better stewards of energy. The campaign has a track record of tangible results: shrinking carbon footprints and educating hundreds of thousands of people in the pews about the important role of people of faith in addressing this most challenging issue.
In addition to practicing energy stewardship in our facilities, IPL brings the voice of the faith community into the policy-making arena. We know that our actions alone cannot stem the tide of climate change – we need to enact public policies to advance clean energy and to limit carbon pollution. IPL is working to support policy change at the local, state, and national levels.
As people of faith, our mission includes being advocates for vulnerable people and communities that are the most heavily impacted by climate change. From air pollution to droughts to rising seas, it is poor people who are being hit first and worst by global warming. Our goal is to ensure that climate policies provide adaptation and mitigation support for communities domestically and internationally whose health and survival is at stake. We also aim to make sure that all people can participate in and benefit from the growing clean energy economy.
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