September 12     FAMILIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE. (From BECOMING ECO-FRIENDLY FAMILIES)

The United Nations International Year of the Family 30th anniversary in 2024 chose Families and Climate as its focus theme with 2 main areas: 1. The impact on families.  2. The response of families.   

IMPACT. The direct and indirect impact on families is largely negative. Extreme weather ranging from floods to drought can result in loss of life, damage and destruction of homes and livelihoods, displacement and the break-up of family units. Consideration should be given to the fact that impact is not only on human but on all ecosystems and all families of creation.  

THE ROLE OF FAMILIES IN CLIMATE CHANGE AND ACTION.

Humans’ lifestyle has a profound and mostly negative impact on the planet’s health.   Use of power for lighting, cooking, heating, cooling, modes and frequency of travel, what we eat, what we use from clothing to plastics and electronics all contribute to greenhouse gas emission i.e. higher CO2 levels in the atmosphere which then leads to changes in the climate. Materialist attitudes fed by advertising contribute to consumerist behaviour, encouraging people to buy more than they need, making wastage a major problem. Every family member in every way contributes in greater or lesser degrees.  Our diets and eating habits, sports and entertainment industries also play a role. A carbon footprint measure demonstrates how the more wealthy, who use more power, contribute many times more to this harmful situation.

THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBLE ACTION BY EVERYONE.

Drastic action needs to be taken. Responsible role players are government, civil society organisations, including churches, the private and business sectors on a large scale. Power and food producers, and even our leisure activities can act to limit harmful effects of our lifestyle.  Improving productivity, limiting use of water and power, reducing wastage and plastic and not replacing what still works are mindsets. 

An important point to note is that all the role player groups are made up of family people, but a special role can be played in families at home, in practical, material and financial ways. for example, by using renewable energy, changing to plant-based diets, cutting car use or unnecessary travel.  Once again it is a matter of mindset. Think before you dump. Or jump!  In order to achieve a nearer to zero CO2 impact.

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:   Love your enemies, and do good and lend expecting nothing in return., and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High. For he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. “Be merciful even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6: 27-38.  Pope Francis: If we can overcome individualism we can truly bring about change. LS208     Many problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture which affects the excluded just as it quickly reduces things to rubbish.   Most of the paper we produce is thrown away. It is hard for us to accept that the way natural ecosystems work is exemplary: plants synthesize nutrients which feed herbivores, those in turn become food for carnivores, which produce significant quantities of organic waste which gives rise to new generations of plants. Our industrial system at the end of its cycle of production and consumption has not developed the capacity to absorb and reuse waste and by products. We have not yet managed to adopt a circular model of production. LS 22

Eco-tip and prayer. Act and pray for the motivation to provide the family with tools to develop family eco-spirituality. Through forming strong positive foundations and habits civic awareness and activism can increase.  Loving God, make us more and more conscious that our home is a good places to start to become eco- and family- friendly.