Connecting with Copenhagen
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
As diplomats from around the world converge in Copenhagen to discuss global climate concerns, local parishes and schools are already taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
Among those who are joining the effort is St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck. The parish has joined in a worldwide effort to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million to 350, a number scientists say is the upper limit of the planet’s safe zone.
Rapidly increasing carbon dioxide levels over the last century have resulted in rising temperatures and experts predict that unless the world level is lowered to 350, the earth may suffer irreparable damage. St. Mary Parish responded to this urgent need by participating in the recent International Day of Climate Action, a worldwide effort to raise awareness of the climate crisis. The parish marked the day with the installation of solar panels that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
Parish members also handed out compact fluorescent light bulbs to all who attended Mass that day. The bulbs both reduce a user’s energy costs and limit greenhouse gas emissions by preventing pollution from entering the atmosphere, making them an earth-friendly alternative to standard incandescent bulbs.
Photos from the event at St.Mary were submitted to the website www.350.org, where they have been included in a gallery with thousands of other photos from activities held around the world on the Day of Climate Action.
Environmental action has long been an important ministry at St. Mary. The parish boasts an active environmental committee, which has for 16 years hosted an annual environmental expo, and they are also a member of GreenFaith, a New Jersey interfaith organization devoted to environmental stewardship.
St. Mary is not the only parish in the diocese to become involved in the “350” movement. St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, also joined in the effort by sounding their church bell as a call to action on the climate change issue.
An interfaith gathering on the church’s front lawn Dec. 13 saw all attendees have an opportunity to ring the church bell. The bell was rung 350 times to signify the target level of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere.
The event, sponsored by the St. Ann “green team” ministry, was one of many to be held around the world. At 3 p.m. local time in all time zones, churches began ringing their bells 350 times to send a clear message to the world leaders in Copenhagen that an agreement on global climate concerns must be reached.
For more information on the 350 project and its role in the Copenhagen conference, visit www.350.org.
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As diplomats from around the world converge in Copenhagen to discuss global climate concerns, local parishes and schools are already taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
Among those who are joining the effort is St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck. The parish has joined in a worldwide effort to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million to 350, a number scientists say is the upper limit of the planet’s safe zone.
Rapidly increasing carbon dioxide levels over the last century have resulted in rising temperatures and experts predict that unless the world level is lowered to 350, the earth may suffer irreparable damage. St. Mary Parish responded to this urgent need by participating in the recent International Day of Climate Action, a worldwide effort to raise awareness of the climate crisis. The parish marked the day with the installation of solar panels that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
Parish members also handed out compact fluorescent light bulbs to all who attended Mass that day. The bulbs both reduce a user’s energy costs and limit greenhouse gas emissions by preventing pollution from entering the atmosphere, making them an earth-friendly alternative to standard incandescent bulbs.
Photos from the event at St.Mary were submitted to the website www.350.org, where they have been included in a gallery with thousands of other photos from activities held around the world on the Day of Climate Action.
Environmental action has long been an important ministry at St. Mary. The parish boasts an active environmental committee, which has for 16 years hosted an annual environmental expo, and they are also a member of GreenFaith, a New Jersey interfaith organization devoted to environmental stewardship.
St. Mary is not the only parish in the diocese to become involved in the “350” movement. St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville, also joined in the effort by sounding their church bell as a call to action on the climate change issue.
An interfaith gathering on the church’s front lawn Dec. 13 saw all attendees have an opportunity to ring the church bell. The bell was rung 350 times to signify the target level of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere.
The event, sponsored by the St. Ann “green team” ministry, was one of many to be held around the world. At 3 p.m. local time in all time zones, churches began ringing their bells 350 times to send a clear message to the world leaders in Copenhagen that an agreement on global climate concerns must be reached.
For more information on the 350 project and its role in the Copenhagen conference, visit www.350.org.