Last March 31, Father Sam Fuller, a friend, colleague and activist on behalf of God’s creation and all people and board member of IREJN, participated in a one day conference, Opportunities to Raise Public Awareness about Climate Change and the Need for Action, convened by the NYC Bar Association held at their headquarters in downtown Manhattan. Sam was invited to serve on a panel to discuss the implications of the Papal Encyclical, issued in June, 2015. It was an unusual gathering as it was ‘a coordinated effort by metropolitan New York’s businesses, institutions, religious organizations and NGOs to create and effectively communicate an aligned, common message on the urgent need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.’ Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York gave opening remarks and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, gave the keynote address.
The report from the event is available for download below. Ninety-two pages in length, the first 20 pages provide a complete summary of the event with summarized comments from all of the speakers, panelists, breakout sessions along with proposed next steps (some of which are already underway) and acknowledgements. The rest of the report entails full program materials with a complete record of transcribed remarks including those of Cardinal Dolan (pgs. 38-39) and Professor Sachs (pgs. 41-49).
I encourage you to read this as it is realistic, sober and holds a very positive approach to messaging and a vision for ways to move forward dealing with climate change.
