ShopIPL.org, is an online energy efficiency store for faith communities and their members sponsored by Interfaith Power & Light. With the launch of this website in August 2007, Interfaith Power & Light is mobilizing a religious response to global warming through the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Religious Leaders Summit on Global Warming On April 14th, 2007, TRP hosted an historic Religious Leaders Summit on Global Warming in San Francisco. Leaders from major U.S. denominations and organizations participated, from the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to representatives of the National Council of Churches, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the North American Islamic Society. The goal of this summit was to bring diverse religious traditions into agreement on the issue of climate change and the need to defend Creation against this enormous threat. Dr. Stephen Schneider of Stanford University presented the science of global warming. The leaders then had a facilitated dialogue among themselves as to how best to get the message into their constituencies.
The initial outcome of the summit meeting was a “Declaration on the Moral Responsibility of the U.S. Government to address Global Warming,” written by the summit participants, who together represent millions of constituents. The statement has since been signed by hundreds of clergy from all over the country, and delivered to Congress. Click here to view the statement.
Spotlight on Global Warming project succeeded in showing An Inconvenient
Truth to over half a million people of faith. All 20 state Interfaith
Power and Light (IPL) affiliates were heavily involved with organizing
this project. Our initial outreach goal was 1,500 congregations in 20
states, yet it was quickly exceeded and 4,000 congregations (over
500,000 people viewing) signed up by the September sign-up deadline. In
addition, Interfaith Power and Light was able to coordinate screenings
in all 50 states. Due to strong demand, many of the congregations held
multiple screenings and hosted other global warming education events to
supplement the film screenings.
The media impact was excellent. There were feature stories on CBS
Morning News, The New York Times and NPR’s Talk of the Nation. There
have been 20 radio talk show stories, multiple television stories
including SF Bay Area (KTVU, KGO), Minneapolis (CBS affiliate), LA (ABC
affiliate), multiple radio stories including KQED California report,
many print stories including Atlanta Constitution, Charlotte News
Observer, Riverside Press Enterprise, and Des Moines Register.
Two media excerpts are below, and several complete media clips are
available on our News page.
New York Times - October 2006
“We’re all part of God’s Creation”, Father Morris (executive director
of Michigan IPL) said. “If someone like me doesn’t speak about its
care, who will?” The changes we’ve made here (becoming more energy
efficient in our church), that’s a form of preaching…In October, 4,000
congregations of various faiths will show films on global warming,
including An Inconvenient Truth.
The Christian Post - September 2006
“I have spent my life fighting for civil rights and human rights,” said
Pastor Gerald L. Durley of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in
Atlanta. “After I saw The Great Warming and An Inconvenient Truth, I
have taken on yet another mission. We are destroying our earth. We
can’t protect human rights if we aren’t here.”
Interfaith Power and Light consists of over 4,000 congregation members in 24 states and the District of Columbia. As participants in the Clinton Global Initiative we have committed to doubling our membership by 2006.
Michigan IPL has developed an ambitious pilot project -- an online shopping cart that is offering congregational members energy efficient lighting products and appliances at low prices. At the checkout, the customer gets an estimate of energy savings, dollar savings, emission reductions and the equivalent of trees planted of cars taken off the road given their purchase.
California and Oregon IPL worked on "The West Coast Governor's Global Warming Initiative." Over 100 clergy from Oregon and California signed on to a letter urging strong state action to address global warming.
Georgia IPL created a Hanukkah Guide, which outlines reasons for switching to energy efficient light bulbs, the environmental impacts of electricity generation, and the Jewish community's responsibility to care for Creation. It suggests that each night of Hanukkah, members switch out one of their regular incandescent bulbs with a CFL, and then read the study guide entry, which includes information and a prayer. They have also developed a similar Advent Guide for the Christian community.
Connecticut IPL has organized consultation for green building projects or conservation upgrades for 22 organizations, including one kosher food store, 20 congregations and the association of non-profit building managers for the state.
Illinois IPL has helped 12 congregations purchase energy from a wind farm in Mendota Hills, IL. This has eliminated over 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions -- the equivalent of planting 12,000 trees.
Read more about our accomplishments in our 2006 Annual Report.
Awards
The Interfaith Power and Light Campaign and the Rev. Sally Bingham have received numerous awards including the 2007 U.S. EPA Climate Protection Award, the 2007 Purpose Prize, the Energy Globe Award and recognition as a “sacred gift to the planet” by the World Wildlife Fund. In July 2007, Rev. Bingham was named one of the top fifteen green religious leaders by Grist magazine. For a list of awards won by The Regeneration Project and Interfaith Power and Light, click here. |
