An Encyclical-Inspired Climate Action Plan for Atlanta's Archdiocese
The Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta is issuing a climate action plan in response to Pope Francis’s historic encyclical. Susan Varlamoff, GIPL board member and director of UGA’s Office of Environmental Studies, is helping to lead the panel that will create the plan. Varlamoff shares her thoughts on why this project is important for the Catholic church, for Atlanta, and ultimately, for all who share this common home.How does your Catholic faith help inform your environmental ethic?SV: St. Francis of Assisi calls us to honor and respect all species on earth. Each has its place in the complex food web of which we humans are part. The Canticle of the Sun is a beautiful prayer that is poetic and shows how we are linked to the element of the earth.What inspires you most about Laudato Si (Pope Francis's encyclical) and why?SV: Laudato Si is a wonderful letter to the people of the planet describing the state of the earth as well as potential solutions. Most importantly it is a plea to humanity to honor creation by taking the necessary steps to safeguard it for all people including future generations. Here are a few quotes I particularly like:“If the simple fact of being human moves people to care for the environment of which they are a part, Christians in their turn realize that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith”.Environmental education ‘seeks also to restore the various levels of ecological equilibrium, establishing harmony within ourselves, with others, with nature and other living creatures, and with God. Environmental education should facilitate making the leap towards the transcendent which gives ecological ethics its deepest meaning [201]. ‘ “Once we start to think about the kind of world we are leaving to future generations, we look at things differently; we realize that the world is a gift, which we have freely received and must share with others. [159].”“Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society.”Why does the Atlanta Archdiocese need a climate action plan?SV: On the recommendation of a colleague, I met with the Archbishop to see if I could help in some way with the Encyclical. He said that typically the Vatican handles this internally. He said what is most needed in Georgia is an outreach plan to take the words of the Pope to the people in the state. So together with colleagues, we have written an Action Plan based on all the environmental issues described in Laudato Si.What are your hopes for the implementation of a climate action plan within the Catholic church?SV: As far as we know, the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta is the only one that has commissioned a detailed Action Plan for Pope Francis’ Encyclical. Our hope as well as Archbishop Gregory’s is that we can pilot this Plan in Georgia and then have it adopted by Catholic Archdiocese in other states and regions. It would need to be rewritten highlighting local resources.How can GIPL best support the efforts of the Archdiocese?SV: The information in the Action Plan can be used by people of all faiths. The actions range from the simple such as changing out light bulbs to energy efficient ones and recycling to buying an fuel efficient car and creating a water wise landscape.So I see GIPL as a means to take the Action Plan to other faith communities by working with the Archdiocese to link them to faith leaders interested in environmental issues.
To read more about how the Encyclical is inspiring congregations, and for materials you can use in your congregation, visit our Encyclical Resources page.Listen to Susan Varlamoff's interview on WABE, Atlanta's NPR station: "Archdiocese Of Atlanta Creates Climate Change Panel"