Interfaith Response to Climate Change
This evening, I attended the Fall 2015 Conference offered by Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light (RI-IPL). RI-IPL is one of forty state organizations affiliated with the national Interfaith Power & Light movement. RI-IPL’s membership includes twenty local congregations and faith organizations committed to fulfill the moral responsibility of faithful stewardship of Creation. To that end, RI-IPL works with local faith-based organizations to raise awareness about climate change, related spiritual teachings and practice responses. RI-IPL also engages with the religious community to promote energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
This evening’s conference featured a keynote address delivered by Curt Spalding, the Administrator for Region 1 (New England) of the Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to joining the EPA, Mr. Spalding had served for twenty years as executive director of Save the Bay in Rhode Island, a 20,000-member environmental advocacy and education organization. Mr. Spalding addressed resilience planning efforts for climate change in New England, including pilot projects to support community sustainability and urban revitalization. He responded to questions from the conference participants, including the work done to de-commission nuclear power plants in New England.
The keynote address was followed by break-out sessions as round-tables discussing a variety of local initiatives. I learned a great deal about the work being done at the grassroots level to support a sustainable environment. To see photographs from the conference, click this link and be sure to follow for the announcement for next year’s conference or for events from other state chapters of the Interfaith Power and Light movement.