Climate Hope Affiliates
In March of 2025, we began launching Climate Hope Affiliates! Through this new program, we are starting local chapters across the country to address the interconnected crises of climate change and societal injustice. For us, this is a calling!
Climate Hope Affiliates are dedicated to advancing and protecting federal legislation through the development of ongoing relationships with members of Congress, local media, and the broader community. Recently, we were part of our first legislative victory! In January, Congress rejected the Trump administration’s proposal to cut EPA funding by 55%.
We have now launched our first fourteen affiliates in Lehigh Valley (PA), Framingham (MA), the East Bay of Northern California (CA), Concord (NH), Carlisle (PA), Lancaster (PA), Atlanta (GA), Cleveland (OH), the eastern suburbs of the Cleveland area (OH), Shasta (CA), Collegeville (PA), East Lansing (MI), Glen Ellyn (IL), and Downers Grove (IL).
If you live near one of these affiliates and want to connect, let us know!
If you are interested in starting an affiliate in your area, let us know!
Climate Hope Affiliates is a joint initiative of the United Church of Christ and Creation Justice Ministries, which represents 36 different denominations. Our vision aligns with the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform that centers economic and racial justice. With core leadership from leaders in the environmental justice movement, 346 organizations have signed onto the platform.
In April, the Atlanta Chapter of Climate Hope Affiliates joined with First Congregational Church of Atlanta to host our annual Earth Summit. The gathering featured the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Samuel as keynote speaker, along with a panel of energy justice champions: Dr. Shalanda Baker, former head of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the Department of Energy under the Biden administration; Chandra Farley, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Atlanta; and Brionté McCorkle, Executive Director of Georgia Conservation Voters.
At the Earth Summit, we also announced the winner of our fourth annual Climate Hope Art Contest for Children and Youth.
THE WINNING CLIMATE HOPE ART FOR 2026
Why We Are Called to Climate Action
One could argue that all of us have a self-interest in doing everything we can to address the climate crisis. As Christians, however, we are called beyond our individual lives to love our neighbor and to care for all of God’s creation. To be in right relationship with our neighbors and God’s creation is ultimately at the heart of being in right relationship with God. To put it more succinctly, when we talk about what it means to be in right relationship we are talking about justice. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to put justice into action.
Today, justice takes many different and interconnected forms. We see this especially in the climate crisis. The burdens of pollution do not fall on everyone equally. Climate-related disasters do not affect everyone the same. Race, poverty, and other societal inequities all play a role in who currently suffers the most and who faces the greatest impending dangers. Often those who have contributed the least to climate change are those who are impacted the most.