Happy holidays to all the different faiths celebrating holy days this month! You can see all of the holidays celebrated on Interfaith Cincy's Multifaith Calendar!

Our FCGG Education & Lifestyles Working Group met on November 3 and we had a great meeting. Here are the attached notes from our meeting.

We are planning to meet again in January and would like your feedback on when a convenient time for you would be. Please complete our poll here.

What is COP27?

If you have been listening to the news, you might have heard people talking about "COP27" ("COP" stands for "Conference of the Parties"). But what exactly is this and what do you need to know? The folks at 350.org have put together a brief primer on "11 things you need to know about COP27":

• COP27 is a meeting where world leaders make agreements and decisions to tackle the climate crisis and since 2015, based on the Paris Agreement, prevent global temperature from rising beyond 1.5°C.
• The conference this year met from November 6-18, 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
• Last year at COP, the US and 38 other countries agreed to stop financing international unabated fossil fuel energy by the end of 2022.
• This year, their focus was on following up on the promises made last year on fossil fuel financing to ensure no backtracking, calling for climate financing for fast deployment of renewables and efficiency to ensure energy access and transition, while making sure the communities who are at the frontlines resisting big European projects like East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline and gas infrastructure are heard loud and clear. They supported calls for compensation over climate impacts to not hinder the development of the regions in the Global South and further entrench them into debt and poverty.

Who Attended?

• World leaders, heads of states, ministers, climate activists, civil society, fossil fuel lobbyists, and CEOs were there.

What is at stake? 

• The climate crisis is rapidly accelerating, and every day we delay action, our options get narrower. In order to stop the worst effects, we must limit global heating as much as we possibly can — every fraction of a degree counts.
• In order to do that, the world must avoid any new coal, oil, and gas development, move towards electrification and energy efficiency, and redirect financial flows toward the vast deployment of renewable energy.
• Right now with the current national plans, we are on track for nearly 3 degrees of global heating. We need to see action across the globe to drive down emissions and transition to a fair and sustainable economy.
• Countries must fast-track their efforts to reduce emissions and commit to more ambitious climate goals. There have been swathes of weak commitments from them over the years, and most recently last year at COP26 in Glasgow. But this is a smokescreen for inactivity, delay is the new denial, we need radical action now because the cost of climate inaction is much higher than the cost of climate action. Incremental change will not get us to where we need to be.

What were the results? 

• In negotiations that went down to the wire over the final days, countries reached a historic decision to establish and operationalize a loss and damage fund, particularly for nations most vulnerable to the climate crisis.

Faith communities do many things well - but one of the things we do best is gather! But these events can often encourage waste and other behaviors that do not always care for the environment around us. Below, one of our members, Susan Vogt, shares some thoughts on how to "Green our Gatherings"! Thank you Susan for sharing these insights with us!

GUIDING PRINCIPLES: 

As faith-based groups we look to bring a sacred perspective to the human community and all creation through:

• Being mindful and intentional * Educate, Share, don’t judge
• Leading by example * Be aware of not excluding groups of people
• Don’t strive for perfection - Strive for what is appropriate, realistic, and sustainable 

Communication (before, during, and after meetings) 

• Digitize as much as possible but be aware of varying levels of digital skills/equipment
• When print materials are used, print on both sides

Travel to meetings 

• When possible, choose a location that doesn’t require much travel
• For local meetings encourage carpooling, public transportation, biking…
• For distant meetings consider energy impact of car/plane travel. Is online appropriate?

Facility

• Assess energy use during meetings such as heating, cooling, lighting, charging stations.
• When using a hotel/retreat center, etc. ask about their sustainability policies. Can they minimize travel-size plastic bottles, turn-down service, etc.?

Prayer 

• As always, we meet in the spirit of God as creator of all life and nature.

Meeting supplies

• Minimize unnecessary paper (see #1) and single use products (especially plastics)
• Maximize reusable products such as water dispensers, washable cups, plates, utensils…

Food/Beverages

• Support local food and businesses
• Maximize non-animal products. offer vegetarian, vegan etc.
• Fair trade coffee/tea when possible
• Encourage people to bring their own water bottle
• Reduce food waste and/or arrange how to donate leftovers

Recycle 

• Provide separate trash cans for recyclables and garbage (ideally compostables also). Know where to take each after the meeting. Be trash sensitive as methane accumulates from landfills. 

Personal Hygiene (especially while Covid is still around and if meeting indoors)

• Alert participants to location of bathrooms
• Arrange seating with enough personal space
• If necessary, have signage reminding people to cough/sneeze into their elbow, not hand

Enriching Environmental Resources

• When appropriate/possible, connect with local resources/people for enrichment. 
• Consider eco-related service activity in free time.

The Bigger Picture

• Consider social justice issues in organizing meetings (location, facility, labor issues, following local environmental/cultural protocols, etc.)
• Consider Carbon Offset options when carbon use is unavoidable (i.e., air travel). For examples see Energy Intelligence Center (EIC) https://www.eic.co.uk/4-types-of-carbon-offset-projects/

An important webinar on December 8, 2022, 4-5pm. Register here.

The 2nd Annual

"Let there be a new light this Chanukah"

Recycling Event

WHAT: Collection and recycling of spent lightbulbs and batteries 

WHERE: Adath Israel Congregation, 3201 E. Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45236

WHEN: Sunday, December 11th, 2022  

TIME: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

DETAILS: Please only enter from East Galbraith Road (right turn)

Turn right behind the building.

Drop off bins will be on your right under the large portico.

Drive slowly to the portico. Folks will be there to assist you.

Household Light Bulb types collected*:

CFL (Compact FLuorescent)

LED (Light Emitting Diode)

*Unfortunately, long, slim fluorescent bulbs cannot be accepted currently.

Household Battery types collected: 

AA and AAA (TV remotes, toys)

C and D (large flashlights)

123 Lithium (smoke detectors)

9V (smoke detectors)

Flat button batteries (hearing aids, watches)

Power tool battery packs (drills, hedge trimmers)

Questions? Email Evelyn Wagner