Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) has begun receiving inquiries from local religious communities interested in divesting from fossil fuels. IPL is currently focused on helping congregations utilize and model clean energy solutions. For those who are interested in divestment as a strategy for responding to global warming, we have compiled this list of various opinions, articles and actions.
The following faith organizations have already divested from fossil fuels:
- United Church of Christ
- The World Council of Churches
- The Union Theological Seminary
- The Unitarian Universalist Association
- The University of Dayton in Ohio (Catholic)
- First Presbyterian of Palo Alto (individual congregation)
The following campaigns are focused on faith-based fossil-fuel divestment:
- Divest the Vatican, a campaign of Interfaith Power & Light
- Fossil Free Presbyterian Church (USA)
Divest-Invest Individual Pledge
Join a growing and dynamic community of people shifting money from the economy of the fossil-fueled past into the climate solutions powering our future. Click here for more information.
President Obama on Divesting
“Convince those in power to reduce our carbon pollution. Push your own communities to adopt smarter practices. Invest. Divest. Remind folks there’s no contradiction between a sound environment and strong economic growth. And remind everyone who represents you at every level of government that sheltering future generations against the ravages of climate change is a prerequisite for your vote. Make yourself heard on this issue.” — President Obama, June 25, 2013
President Obama’s Climate Action Speech, June 25, 2013
In this article in the New York Times, Justin Gillis explores the use of word “divest” in the President’s speech, and reveals the meaning it holds for those working on the issue.
About Faith Divesting
United Church of Christ to become first U.S. denomination to move toward divestment from fossil fuel companies. The divestment proposal was brought to the national UCC conference by Mass. Interfaith Power & Light advisor, Rev. Dr. James Antal (antalJ at macucc dot org), who is also President & Conference Minister, Mass. Conference, United Church of Christ.
