Climate Hope Action Assembly meets to update status of most recent campaign

The United Church of Christ Council for Climate Justice hosts Climate Action Assemblies every two months to focus on efforts related to the implementation of past General Synod resolutions. In the most recent Climate Action Assembly, held on Sept. 4, the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, Minister for Environmental Justice, gave updates on the most recent Climate Hope Campaign as the November election approaches.

A top priority for younger voters

Berndt shared the news that the climate crisis is not a priority for most voters, as research by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that it is only the nineteenth most important issue for polled voters, behind issues such as road construction and budget deficits. However, this isn’t the case for younger voters, Berndt pointed out. “The good news is that for young people age 35 and under, the climate crisis is a top priority. Forty percent of those voters will only vote for candidates that prioritize climate action,” he said.

Enormous implications

Berndt said, “With the climate crisis, this upcoming election has enormous implications. Climate scientists have been clear that we are in a moment in which there is a dire need for government action. We need elected officials who will rise to the occasion. To make that happen, people of faith have to first rise to the occasion as voters and advocates. This is our opportunity to vote our values and to then hold our elected officials accountable.”

He continued, “To be effective, voter mobilization and government accountability must go together hand-in-hand. As people of faith, we have the unique capacity to act on our values across the country in rural, suburban and urban communities in red, blue and purple states.”  

Register now and win a pizza party

As the Climate Action Assembly Vote for Climate Hope continues, Berndt shared that there are 185 registered churches. This exceeds the 143 churches that participated last year. The goal is to have 200 registered, and congregations are invited to volunteer and register here.

The church that collects the most voter pledge cards wins a pizza party, and will automatically be nominated for the Dollie Burwell Propohetic Action Award. This award is unique because it recognizes a group participating in a collective action, rather than an individual. The contest rules can be found in the Vote for Climate Hope toolkit.

One new thing that was announced in the assembly is the final phase of the campaign. After Election Day, the focus will be on church members visiting their elected officials. It’s proven that voter mobilization and government accountability are strongest when they are linked together.

The next Climate Action Assembly will be on Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. EST, just two days after the election. It will assess the implications of the election and what’s next for the Climate Hope campaign. You can register for that assembly now.

You can watch the entire Climate Action Assembly from September 4 here:

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