EarthBeat Weekly: US Catholics assess future harm from climate change

US Catholics assess future harm from climate change Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change November 3, 2023   Activists mark the start of Climate Week in New York City Sept. 17, during a demonstration calling for the U.S. government to take action toward ending fossil fuel use in order to reduce the impact of global climate change. (OSV News/Reuters/Eduardo Munoz) Survey data doesn't provide us with the full context and complexity of a situation, but it is a convenient way to assess the general public's opinions and experiences.  In the past year, the Pew Research Center has twice asked Americans how they feel about various aspects of climate change. The reported results of those polls didn't include information about respondents' religious affiliations. But when requested, Pew has sent EarthBeat specific data about how Catholics responded so that we could include that information in our reporting.  On many points, the Catholic responses reflect the same trends seen in the general population of U.S. adults. We're often more likely to see differentiation along lines of political affiliation, age, race and ethnicity than we are due to religion. So I always take note when the Catholic responses do vary significantly from the other respondents, like they did for a few of the questions in Pew's recent study on "How Americans View Future Harms From Climate Change in Their Community and Around the U.S." NCR staff reporter Aleja Hertzler-McCain reported that according to the new Pew survey, U.S. Catholics are more likely than other U.S. adults to be: optimistic that we can address climate change; motivated to address the crisis; suspicious of groups pushing for action on climate change. U.S. Catholics are more likely than other U.S. adults to think: climate activism is effective in influencing elected officials;  individual Americans can reduce the effects of climate change. U.S. Catholics report less support than other U.S. adults for climate scientists' influence in public policy debates. Read more: Pew study: US Catholics more motivated by climate news than other Americans Other recent survey reports on EarthBeat include: "Survey: US religious groups do not view climate change as a crisis," by RNS national reporter and senior editor Yonat Shimron, Oct. 11. "Poll: US Catholics' views on climate show no significant 'Laudato Si'' effect years later," by OSV national reporter Kate Scanlon, Oct. 4. "Despite pope's pleas, survey finds US Catholics support fossil fuel expansion more than rest of country," by NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe, June 28. What else is new on EarthBeat: Pope Francis to travel to Dubai to address UN climate summit by Christopher White Pope Francis said he will attend the United Nations' COP28 climate change conference in Dubai next month, becoming the first pontiff to ever address such a high-level summit. Economic impacts of climate change drive workers in Bangladesh to modern slavery by Stephan Uttom Rozario In Bangladesh, the long-term climate and economic impacts of storms lead to to reliance on moneylenders through an arrangement that has been compared to modern slavery. Why 2 ministers stood up to disrupt an investment industry conference by Amy Brooks Paradise, Chelsea MacMillan On Oct. 23, we said a silent prayer and then interrupted a speaker at a conference of investment industry leaders. We stood on our chairs and unfurled a banner that demanded Vanguard stop funding fossil fuels. Floods did not dampen the spirit of the Pakistani people by Emer Manning During the 2022 floods in Pakistan, we Presentation Sisters listened to the grief of the people and also heard about their efforts to survive. The resilience of the people was truly amazing. In Benin, Voodoo's birthplace, believers bemoan steady shrinkage of forests they revere as sacred by Sam Mednick, The Associated Press As economic development threatens woodlands, communities struggle to protect the spirits believed to live within them. What's happening in other climate news: "Global Discord Threatens COP28 Climate Talks, EU Commissioner Says" — Alexander Cornwell for Reuters It's unlikely, but not impossible, to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius, study finds — Rebecca Hersher for NPR Louisiana was open to Cancer Alley concessions. Then EPA dropped its investigation — Michael Phillis for The Associated Press Saleemul Huq, climate change ‘revolutionary’ from Bangladesh, dies at 71 — William Branigin for The Washington Post Final Beat: Monday, Oct. 30, marked EarthBeat's 4th anniversary! Thank you to all who have contributed to our mission to bring you stories where ecological concern and moral conviction meet.  The importance of telling stories about the climate crisis, faith and action has only grown since EarthBeat's launch in 2019. If you would like to make a donation gift in honor of EarthBeat's 4th anniversary, you can do so here. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr Twitter/X: @scherp01   Featured Advertisers   Study for an Online Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies at a historic Canadian Catholic university. No international fees. Scholarships available. Apply now for Winter 2024.  Need fresh ideas for your homilies?  More than 900 relevant and practical homilies at www.seedsforsowing.weebly.com