Climate Change and Catholic Health Care: A Matter of Faith, Hope and Charity
Pope Benedict XVI and the U.S. Catholic Bishops accept the scientific consensus that climate change is upon us, that prudence calls us to act now to faithfully care for Creation and avoid more severe consequences in the future, and warn that its adverse impacts will likely fall heaviest on the poor at home and abroad. As Catholic health care providers, climate change is a moral concern and our faith demands prudent action to reduce our carbon footprint, care for "the least of these" (Mt 25) and raise our voice on behalf of Creation and the poor.
Specifically, the escalating problem of global warming is an issue for Catholic health care because:
- We are people of faith and believe "the earth is the Lord's and all it holds." (Ps 24:1)
- We understand there is substantial body of scientific knowledge showing "warming of the climate is unequivocal." (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007)
- As health providers, we are concerned that "many diseases will surge as the atmosphere heats up." (Scientific American, August 2000)), and that burden of caring for people will be born, in part, by the Catholic health ministry.
- We can help reduce our own carbon footprint because "as one of the largest users of energy, hospitals are major contributors to climate change." (Global Health and Safety Initiative, 2008)
In order to live out our commitments to care for and protect 'both the human and the natural environment,' CHA is both a member of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change and a partner of their Catholic Climate Covenant, which promotes the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor.
In addition, the Catholic Health Association — in cooperation with Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), Denver; Covenant Health Systems, Lexington, Mass.; and Trinity Health, Novi, Mich., — completed a one-year ministry-wide initiative to raise awareness about global climate change. Learn more about this project, Faithfully Healing the Earth.
NEW! On-Demand PowerPoints for Use in Associate Education
CHA, funded through a grant by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change (CCCC) and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, has developed five on-demand educational modules that are short and to the point for use in Catholic health care. Developed in collaboration with Practice Greenhealth and the CCCC, the topics and leaders narrating each include:
- Mission and the Environment, with Fr. Thomas Nairn, OFM, Ph.D., of CHA.
- Leadership Engagement, with Colleen Scanlon, RN, JD, of Catholic Health Initiatives.
- Getting Started, with Julie Trocchio of CHA.
- Creating Dashboards, with Janet Brown of Practice Greenhealth.
- The Catholic Climate Covenant — How Health Care is an Essential Partner, with Dan Misleh of the CCCC.
Climate Resources
Climate Webinars
- Oct. 4, 2011 — Climate Change: Health Impact and Catholic Mission
- Jan. 21, 2010 — Healthy Food in Health Care
- Oct. 8, 2009 — Energy and Catholic Health Care