Sign Our Faith Climate Declaration!

An Interfaith Declaration on a Just Transition:

Combating Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, and Injustice in the State of Indiana

As a coalition of faith communities, congregations, and organizations present in the state of Indiana, we join together with a conviction and responsibility to care for our neighbors and for creation, both of which hold inherent and undeniable dignity. Together, we recognize that climate change, environmental degradation and injustice threaten the health of our society and damage our relationship with the world around us, a relationship that is one of spiritual significance. Through our diverse faith traditions, and as instructed by the Golden Rule, we have a moral imperative to care for and preserve the flourishing of our neighbors and ecosystems in the midst of these challenges; to do so requires a just transition from extractive to regenerative systems while honoring the dignity of all people and creation.

In Indiana, we experience numerous consequences of climate change, environmental degradation, and structural injustice. Climate change leads to increasing extreme heat days, severe storms, and flooding [1]. These conditions threaten life, infrastructure, and agriculture from rural to urban communities. Additionally, forms of environmental degradation such as pollution and deforestation harm human and ecosystem health. They diminish air and water quality, cause disease, and lead to biodiversity loss [2,3]. The impacts of both climate change and environmental degradation intersect with structural forms of injustice, as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), urban and rural poor, and other vulnerable communities disproportionately face the environmental and health consequences of these phenomena. For example, historically redlined communities in Indianapolis have lower levels of tree canopy cover while facing increased occurrences of industrial waste sites [4]. Ultimately, the solution to climate change, environmental degradation, and structural injustice is collective action from individuals, families, faith communities, corporations, and governments to promote the common good through a just transition. 

Motivated by our faith, and representing our communities in the state of Indiana, we, the undersigned, commit to taking action on behalf of our neighbors, ecosystems, and climate to support a just transition towards a regenerative economy. In accordance with our abilities, we commit to moving our faith communities away from extraction and emission and towards a meaningful relationship with our environment. In doing so, we seek to uplift the dignity of those who disproportionately suffer due to environmental injustice and the inherent dignity of the environment itself. We will employ these priorities in decisions about how to build community, worship, advocate, and invest together. We also commit to engaging our national, state, and local governments to advocate for policies that combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and establish environmental justice; we call on our lawmakers to take these issues seriously. With all of this in mind, we ask our Indiana state legislators to declare climate change a significant threat and establish a task force to address it during the next legislative session. With these commitments, and in accordance with our faith traditions and convictions, we are working to build a world that supports the flourishing of all creatures great and small.

Sincerely,

Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light, Confront the Climate Crisis, Citizens Climate Lobby Indiana, Presbyterian Climate Advocates, Islamic Society of North America, Center for Interfaith Cooperation, Mennonite Central Committee Great Lakes, Mennonite Creation Care Network, Pen and Inkpot Foundation, Praxis Mutual Funds, Hoosier Environmental Council, Earth Charter Indiana, Everance Financial, Indiana Region Hindu Swayam Sangh, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary

1. Widhalm, M., Hamlet, A. Byun, K., Robeson, S., Baldwin, M., Staten, P., Chiu, C., Coleman, J., Hall, B., Hoogewind, K., Huber, M., Kieu, C., Yoo, J., Dukes, J.S. 2018. “Indiana’s Past & Future Climate: A Report from the Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment.” Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Purdue University. West Lafayette, Indiana. https://bit.ly/2KDsaga
2. Colias-Pete, Meredith. 2021. “Indiana leads US in toxic releases per square mile, EPA report states.” Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-env-indiana-toxic-st-0328-20210326-3x4xhquoqjeglp7lqa7rim5dny-story.html
3. Rathfon, Ron. 2001. “Sustainable Forestry- What Does It Mean for Indiana?” Purdue University. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-180.pdf 
4. Moxley, Donovan, and Fischer, Burnell. 2020. “Historic HOLC Redlining in Indianapolis and the Legacy of Environmental Impacts.” Journal of Public and Environmental Affairs 1 (1). https://doi.org/10.14434/jpea.v1i1.30321. 

Our goal is to obtain at least 1000 signatures from clergy and congregants of all faith backgrounds and present our statement to our legislators. We need your help to make that happen.

Just click the link below to add your name. Please also list your faith tradition and/or congregation in the comment field. Let's show them that our declaration is truly interfaith!

Want to do even more to help?

After signing, you will have the opportunity to go to our targeted action page and email your legislators NOW! Please help us by telling your legislators that we want them to support climate care action in Indiana!