Fellowship Adopts Climate Resolution

The members of our Fellowship voted with an overwhelming majority at the May 23 congregational meeting to pass a resolution to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, with the long term goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. We also resolved to utilize 70% clean and renewable energy by 2030.

This resolution was modeled after the resolutions passed by the Forsyth County Commissioners and the Winston-Salem City Council, as well as inspired by the Paris Climate Agreement. “We see it as a challenge, but one that rapidly changing technology will make possible,” says Kathy Johnson, Co-Chair of the Fellowship’s EcoSolutions Team. “We hope our efforts will be emulated by other churches and organizations in the Triad.”

The UU Fellowship has long been recognized as a leader in the community on environmental and justice issues. We were the first church in Winston-Salem to utilize solar panels, which were installed in 2014. The Fellowship has also made other sustainable decisions, such as installing high-efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment, composting food scraps, and eliminating disposables such as coffee cups, plates, utensils and napkins. On our grounds we have installed a bioretention cell, or rain garden, to naturally filter runoff from their parking lot and planted native plants and flowers to support pollinators.

“The climate crisis is the single biggest threat to humanity” says the Reverend Ed Brock, the Fellowship’s Interim Minister. “We have been exploring the many sides of this crisis, and its intersections, in both our Worship Services and classes. I am proud of the commitment the congregation has made to take action and exhibit leadership on this issue. I will continue to integrate the work of climate and environmental justice into my sermons and into all I do.”

To read the full resolution, visit https://tinyurl.com/sma7d954