Build the Movement for a Green New Deal 2019 Action of Immediate Witness

WHEREAS, the Green New Deal manifests key UU values — animating both “the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” and “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations”;

WHEREAS, the vision of the Green New Deal will require in-depth organizing and generational dedication to overcome powerful interests that disregard the scientific consensus that massive disruption lies ahead if humanity does not take prompt action to mitigate the escalating climate emergency;

WHEREAS, our earth has already warmed approximately 1°C, and natural disasters such as flooding, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and species die-off, are occurring more frequently as carbon emissions from fossil fuels are now activating powerful feedback loops in the air, oceans, and on land;

WHEREAS, many natural resources, such as fisheries, forests, agricultural lands, fresh water, and minerals, are being degraded or wasted by continued global economic and population growth; and

WHEREAS, social and political stress from escalating economic and political failure is undermining popular support for democracy and human rights, especially where short-sighted economic pursuits have prevailed over equity and compassion and concern for our Earth;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association, its congregations, and their members are urged to:

Continue educating themselves on the accelerating threats to the ecosystems and natural resources that feed and sustain our global civilization, and promote a compassionate national conversation to head off worst-case scenarios;

Prepare our youth to confront the future through religious education and other programs grounded in science that inspire hope, courage and practical collective action;

Develop a new morality, rebuilding our political and economic structures to prioritize the well-being of future generations, grounded in sustainability, while supporting today’s overstressed communities with productive employment, affordable housing and health care, public transportation and education, and other universal benefits;

Ready themselves for the alarming economic challenges ahead as nature’s limits-to-growth severely impact vulnerable populations and sectors such as heavy industry, aviation, and global transport, which are ill-suited for renewable energy;

Invest in regenerative agriculture and research and development in diverse technologies to economically extract carbon from air and water for productive purposes, while phasing out fossil fuels;

Network with UU state action networks, national groups like UUJEC, UUMFE, and UUSJ, or sign up at Create Climate Justice. Participate in the Sept. 15-17, 2019, conference in Washington, DC, on a Green New Deal”;

Form alliances with local groups working on aspects of a Green New Deal or national supporters like The Sunrise Movement, Extinction Rebellion, 350.org, The Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, We Are Still In, and Citizens Climate Lobby;

Obtain background information on the Green New Deal from groups like The Post Carbon Institute, Data for Progress, Inside Climate News, Peoples Policy Project, Oil Change International;

Organize congregational projects that align with the Green New Deal; and

Actively support the development of federal legislation to implement the Green New Deal as envisioned in H.Res. 109.