Global Warming likely to increase hunger: Hits the poor hardest

· Impact for Christians
· What is global warming?
· What you can do
· Key Resources and Organizations

What You Can Do

1. Go carbon neutral in three easy steps:
   
   
   1. Calculate your carbon emissions using a carbon calculator. Calculators can be found at NativeEnergy, Climate Care and Safe Climate.
   2. Try to reduce your energy usage as much as possible by traveling less, eating less meat and buying locally-grown food, and switching to energy-efficient cars and electronics when they require replacement.
   3. For your carbon emissions that cannot be reduced, purchase carbon offsets. You can do this online through groups such as NativeEnergy and Climate Care.
2. Learn more about carbon and ecological footprints. Show "The Ecological Footprint" at your church.
3. Become an Electric Stewardship Congregation.
4. Fight global warming when you shop. Read the following article.

Fighting Global Warming at the Farmer's Market:
The Role of Local Food Systems In Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Stephen Bentley and Ravenna Barker

Food travels, on average, about 1,500 miles from the field to your plate. Eating more locally produced food will automatically reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that result from food transportation. [Read this excellent report from FoodShare Toronto.]

Energy, Food and You: On the Path to Reconciliation

By Andrew Kang Bartlett

This essay describes the purpose and process of moving from food as a petroleum by-product to sustainable food systems. [Download the article.]

"Energy, Food and You" comes from the March/April 2004 Church & Society Journal, Energy in God's World Our Future, Our Choice [Read the introduction and order a copy .]

Buying local can help stop global warming

By Jenny Abel

You're no doubt already aware that driving your car less, drying clothes on a line instead of in a dryer, and replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones can help reduce the greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere, but do you know the impact your food buying decisions can have? Read the short article to learn about the True Cost of Food Campaign.

Participate in PC(USA)'s Electric Stewardship

Electric Stewardship: Plug Into Conservation asks churches to undergo energy audits and to put into action at least one of the new energy saving steps recommended by the audit. Suggestions from an energy audit might range from turning off lights when rooms are not in use to replacing old appliances with updated energy-saving models. Find out how to be an Electric Steward Congregation.

The Home Energy Saver

Use this great tool to tally your home's energy and carbon footprint. Find out how your energy usage compares with others in your area, and learn what you can do to save money and decrease your carbon emissions.

Make an impact with compact fluorescent light bulbs

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if every U.S. home changed five bulbs to efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in high traffic areas — like your kitchen and living room — it would make a noticeable difference in your energy bill and prevent enough emissions to equal tailpipe gases from eight million cars!

See Enough for Everyone's Electric Stewardship Web site to learn how you and your congregation can be better stewards of God's Creation.

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