Faiths’ Call for Climate Action: A Virtual Forum
The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council invites you to “Faiths’ Call for Climate Action.” This virtual forum is organized with the knowledge that climate change is a threat to the existence of all of humanity and requires immediate action from people of all faiths. We invite you to hear faith leaders share their faiths’ perspectives on responding to our climate crisis, followed by a Q & A and brief reports from area climate action organizations on what area residents can do to help stop climate change.
According to NOAA “Impacts from climate change are happening now. These impacts extend well beyond an increase in temperature, affecting ecosystems and communities in the United States and around the world.” During this time of the Covid-19 pandemic we also recognize that climate change is a public health threat that scientists believe exacerbates the emergence of new infectious diseases and can multiply these risks. We also believe that our unified and massive response to the Covid-19 pandemic offers hope along with the suffering and fear we experience – hope arising from our ability to come together to collectively and powerfully address pandemics and to mobilize to address climate change.
Contextual Remarks by:
- Doug Kluck, NOAA Regional Climate Services Director, Central Region (Michigan to Colorado, 16 states). Doug has worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for 28 years. His current responsibilities are to communicate and collaborate with federal, tribal, state, and local governments as well as private sector, NGOs and academics on all things climate related. He was born and raised in Nebraska, but has lived in KC since 2000.
Faith Perspectives on the Climate Crisis:
- Rhonda LeValdo, Haskell Indian Nations University, Media Communications faculty, Producer/Host of “Native Spirit” radio show at KKFI, and board president of the Native American Journalists Association.
- Andrea Duloc, Rime Buddhist Center Board member, Buddhism and Environmentalism class co-facilitator, and active in Prison Outreach Ministry.
- Rabbi Moti Rieber, director of Kansas Interfaith Action, a statewide, faith-based issue-advocacy organization that brings faith into action on a variety of racial, economic and climate justice issues. He lives in Overland Park with his wife and 3 teenage children.”
- Rev. Dr. Vernon Howard, Jr., Senior Pastor, St. Mark Church, KCMO, and President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference – GKC has been raising the moral consciousness of Kansas Citians in support of a livable wage.
- Mahnaz Sabbir is a grassroots organizer and Founder of Shabbir Advisors, an integrated strategic management consulting company focusing on planning, marketing, diversity transformation and education on a national and international basis. She is past president of the Heartland Muslim Council, board member emeritus of the Crescent Peace Society and has long been engaged in interfaith advocacy.
This event is organized by the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and cosponsored by: Climate Council of Greater Kansas City; Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition; Central Baptist Seminary’s Buttry Center for Peace and Nonviolence; Sunrise Movement Kansas City Hub; Buchanan Initiative for Peace and Nonviolence, Avila University; Southern Christian Leadership Conference-GKC; and Crescent Peace Society.
