The Earth is sacred. Our communities are interconnected. And our future depends on how we respond—together.

Climate disruption affects all of us but some communities are hurt worse than others. Marginalized communities are hurt first and worst by climate disruption and are often least resourced to adapt and respond to changing climate conditions — and that’s usually by design.

With deep roots in extractive systems of harm, systemic oppression, and exploitation, climate justice is an intersectional justice issue that we must respond to as a complex crisis with the same root causes as the systems of oppression we fight so hard against.

Climate justice calls us to respond with urgency and moral clarity. Honoring the interdependent web of existence, we commit to cultivating communities of care so that all beings can flourish and thrive. This is not simply an environmental issue. It is a spiritual and ethical commitment to one another and to the Earth itself.

First UU Richmond is a UUA Green Sanctuary!

UUA Resources:

• UUA statements on Climate Justice
• UU Theological Grounding for Climate Justice: How do we make our interdependence faithful and value-driven? This question was posed by UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt during the fireside chat with UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn. These two theologians and leaders discussed the UU theological grounding for climate justice. Interdependent doesn’t always mean something positive, as Rev. Betancourt noted. Someone upstream polluting has an interdependent relationship with those downstream. So: how do we make our interdependence faithful and value-driven?
• Spiritual Nourishment and worship resources for climate justice work from Side With Love
• Climate at the Intersections Video Series: how does climate justice intersect with other justice ministries, like democracy, gender justice, economic justice, trans liberation, and more?

Earth Care Team

This group meets to discuss, plan, and execute projects that will ease the burden of climate change on our planet, acting locally. Let us know if you are interested in joining the core team, which meets monthly, or if you want to be added to the list of those interested in keeping up with our activities.

Contact: Anne-Marie McCartan at earthcare@richmonduu.org 

The Earth Care team is pleased to announce that First UU Richmond is now officially a Green Sanctuary with this video! The Earth Care team resolves to:

Rethink
Refuse
Reduce
Recycle
Rot