Several religious leaders weren’t happy with how Gov. Charlie Baker is handling climate change, so they took it into their own hands.
Leaders of more than 15 different faiths held a protest at the State House Monday afternoon in response to Baker’s supposed refusal to address their climate change concerns.
Baker allegedly failed to respond to a Feb. 26 letter sent by 18 interfaith leaders stating their dissatisfaction with the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure in the state. The letter stated that spiritual leaders have an obligation to protect the environment and its inhabitants.
“Our religious traditions acknowledge the sacredness of our planet, but many of us worry that its future is bleak,” the letter stated. “… We feel a spiritual and moral obligation to express in the strongest possible terms our commitment to protecting the web of life. We are committed to building a just and sustainable society in which human beings and our other-than-human kin can survive.”
The letter communicated Massachusetts residents’ acute awareness of the world around them, and the consequences that using fossil fuels has in the long term.
The letter states that the physical world — and the people living in it — are in danger.
“We are also painfully aware that climate change disproportionately harms poor communities and people of color, the very people who have the least power to influence policy decisions,” the leaders wrote.
The Rev. Dr. Ian Mevorach, who signed the letter, said that faith leaders are concerned that Baker isn’t doing enough to address climate change issues in Massachusetts.
“We’re focusing on what we see as the governor’s lack of initiative and falling behind the will of the people in this state for a clean energy future,” Mevorach said. “We are going to be lifting up the issue of fossil fuel infrastructure in this state which the governor has consistently backed.”
The protest included more than 50 supporters and 20 faith leaders dressed in their religious attire, holding banners, singing and praying, according to a press release from 350 Mass for a Better Future, an organization fighting for legislators to confront the climate crisis.
Topher Yandell, 37, of Back Bay, said she’s happy to see leaders of different faiths coming together during a divisive time.
“I think it’s a beautiful thing to see religious leaders getting involved in public policy that will help and save us all — the fact that all of these leaders can come together to do something for the greater good of humanity,” Yandell said.
The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, who also signed the letter, said that President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord is a concerning development.
“We have a complete failure of leadership on the national level … there is plenty of leadership on climate change that governor Baker could be taking that he isn’t taking,” Bullitt-Jonas said. “Just to give one example, he could issue an executive order to all the relevant state agencies instructing them to stop the constructing of all new fossil fuel infrastructure.”
The coalition of leaders want to see Baker call fossil fuels sustainable and say that Baker’s backing of renewed fossil fuel infrastructure opposes the state’s clean energy goal and does not comply with the Paris Agreement, Mevorach said.
Religious leaders feel a sense of responsibility to voice their concerns, Bullitt-Jonas said, in part due to the faiths they follow and practice.
“As people of faith, we have a deep sense of reverence to the Earth,” she said. “We all share the fundamental conviction that the Earth has been entrusted to our care and that its fundamentally good, and beautiful and worth protecting and saving.”
Meredith Mitchell, 43, of Fenway said political leaders don’t consider climate change to be a serious issue.
“Climate change is not some kind of myth that people are making up to get the government to do what they want,” Mitchell said. “There is very real proof that cannot, and should not be overlooked, but is.”
