EarthBeat Weekly: How to connect with a climate skeptic

How to connect with a climate skeptic Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change August 11, 2023 A digital billboard displays an unofficial temperature, July 17, 2023, in downtown Phoenix. Millions of people around the Southwest are living through a historic heat wave. (AP Photo/Matt York) Pew Research Center data released August 9 takes a closer look at the motives of some respondents to a survey on Americans' feelings about climate change and renewable energy that was released earlier this year. NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe reported the original findings in June, which showed that despite Pope Francis' regular pleas to abandon dependence on fossil fuels, U.S. Catholics actually support expanded use of coal, oil and gas more than other adults across the country. The new data released Wednesday focused on the views of a small subset from the broader study who are most skeptical about climate change and tried to identify common themes through conducting in-depth interviews with 32 of the respondents.  One prominent claim from the climate skeptics was that climate changes and weather patterns are nothing to worry about because they think that what we are currently experiencing is simply part of Earth's natural cycles. While most (all but two) of the skeptics interviewed did not fully deny that climate change is happening, many of them said when scientists, journalists or politicians use language calling it "urgent" and a "crisis," that makes them even more suspicious of ulterior motives and misinformation. Those folks are probably not going to be persuaded by Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese's recent column, which bluntly lays out the state of the planet today, and where we're headed if we don't act fast. Read more: Global warming is here and it is getting worse But the climate skeptics might actually agree with faith leaders who on Tuesday morning rallied outside the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver signatures and call for a strong carbon pollution standard for fossil fuel-fired power plants, saying a reduction in the pollution will better protect local communities from harms to health and ecosystems. According to Pew, "On policy, interviewees were open to government efforts to improve environmental quality, including air and water quality — especially when these efforts were at the local level. The conversations underscore areas of common ground around environmental protection, regardless of Americans' level of concern about climate change." Roewe reported that environmental justice advocates argued the current rule is not bold enough and will perpetuate the use of fossil fuel-fired power plants that pollute communities and occupy huge tracts of land. Read more: Faith leaders urge EPA to protect communities from fossil fuel-fired power plants Smoke and flames rise in Lahaina, Hawaii, on the island of Maui Aug. 8, 2023 in this still image from video obtained from social media. (OSV News/Reuters/TMX/Jeff Melichar) What else is new on EarthBeat: Catholics appeal for help as Biden declares Maui's deadly fires a federal emergency Maui County officials confirmed Aug. 9 that at least 36 people had died and dozens more were injured; by Aug. 10, the death toll had risen to at least 53, according to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green. About 11,000 others have evacuated and more than 271 structures were damaged or destroyed, reported OSV News. Swim expedition shows we might better 'clothe the naked' by buying fewer clothes Ghanaian-British athlete Yvette Tetteh swam 450 kilometers down the Volta River in March to draw attention to water pollution caused by the textile industry and waste colonialism, writes Céire Kealty. Vatican Observatory summer school teaches how 'you can't do astronomy alone' Twenty-seven young scholars from 20 countries gathered in June at the Vatican Observatory for daylong seminars on the theme "Learning the Universe: Data Science Tools for Astronomical Surveys," reports NCR Vatican correspondent Christopher White. Local clergy help clean up Africa's largest freshwater lake Despite its prominence, Lake Victoria has turned into an eyesore. It is currently a sink for human, agricultural and industrial waste, leading to mass aquatic deaths, algae and the spread of hyacinth, a ferocious waterweed, reports Ian Byron. Going to the people and sowing the seeds of kingdom values The backbone of India is its farmers. What greater mission and evangelization can sisters have other than strengthening and supporting the backbone of society, asks Missionary Sister Servant of the Holy Spirit Tessy Jacob in this column for Global Sisters Report. Hunger in four dimensions calls for contemplatives in action Hunger is a word that recently has caught the attention of Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Joyce Myers. She reflects for Global Sisters Report on four of its dimensions: human hunger, Earth's hunger for restoration and relationship, hunger for voice, and hunger for heart intelligence. What's happening in other climate news: These Louisiana sisters took their fight against big industry in ‘Cancer Alley’ to court — and won —Daja E. Henry for the 19th* Biden's first climate czar, Gina McCarthy, is getting a big new gig —Maxine Joselow for The Washington Post The Inequality of Heat Stress —Rebecca Owen for Eos Shaligrams, the sacred fossils that have been worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists for over 2,000 years, are becoming rarer because of climate change —Holly Walters for Religion News Service Final Beat: NCR's EarthBeat is the only dedicated space for faith and climate news in national Catholic media. If you like what you read here, you can support our reporting by becoming a NCR Forward member. Members get first access to special events, updates from our publisher and newsroom, and opportunities to give feedback through surveys and polls.  Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement