For the first time in the 200 year existence of the AME Church, a historic climate resolution was presented pledging to “support climate policies that will protect families, create healthy and safe communities, and build a clean energy future.” In conjunction with Blessed Tomorrow, the church released a statement announcing the resolution along with resources, enabling other AME churches to share and inspire other church and community members to do their part to enact climate change.

The resolution came as a result of the AME church’s 50th annual conference which brought together nearly 30,000 AME clergy and community members. President of AME Church’s Council of Bishops, John White said, “We believe it is our duty to commit to taking action and promoting solutions that will help make our families and communities healthier and stronger.”

Finding solutions is key to combating the serious damage associated with climate change and its effects on the health of black people globally. With blacks consistently listed as most at risk for chronic respiratory illnesses and leading the statistics of suffering from lung cancer, more than any other demographic, dangerous emissions have already proven to have a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of our people. As Bishop White put it, “damage to our climate puts the health of children, elderly, and those with chronic illnesses at greater risk and disproportionately impacts African Americans.”

The AME Church’s mission of ministering to all people serves as the driving force behind the new climate change initiative.

AME Bishop Vashti McKenzie said, “Climate is not just our issue; it’s everybody’s issue.”

As long as climate change goes unaddressed, it will continue to plague our communities and have ravaging effects on the sustainability of life for future generations. The shift towards clean, safe energy is one that we all should be more proactive about. Thanks to the historic move from the AME church, we can assume that we are headed in a better direction towards making that happen.

Photo: giphy

Download the AME Church Climate Resolution to find out ways to make climate change a priority in your life and help make the world better for all of us.


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