Climate Justice Committee Mission Statement

The mission of the Climate Justice Committee is to act on our UU spiritual principles by informing our communities about climate and environmental justice issues and by supporting bold action on behalf of a healthy climate, a healthy environment in all communities, and a sustainable future to support future generations of all life.

How to Get Involved with the Climate Justice Committee

Please email socialjustice@uucb.org and address Dr. Sheila Tarbet.  Sheila will email you when the next Climate Justice Committee meeting is being held (monthly on Zoom).  

2023 Activities

2022 Activities and Presentations

Climate Action Now App (click link)
The Climate Action Now app is invaluable for making a difference in climate justice. UUCB is encouraging all congregants and visitors to add the app to their phones. This easy-to-use app allows you to instantly contact legislators, government agencies and corporations. Also, informative articles and videos are shared. AND, you can earn trees that are planted in deforested areas around the world. When you download the app and complete needed information, please use 310 for Invitation Code for UUCB members.

If you want one-on-one help with the app, please email socialjustice@uucb.org and address Deb Lloyd.  Deb can walk you through the most powerful features of the app.  One voice added to thousands of others, makes a difference. 

Recycling and Composting Efforts at UUCB
UUCB has been committed to recycling for many years as part of its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint.  We welcome the passage of a new California state law that requires the composting of all organic matter and recycling of all items recyclable in your locality.  Recycling and composting rules vary somewhat from city to city. Since we’re located in Kensington, Kensington’s rules apply to us.

We believe everyone has a personal responsibility to compost and recycle to care for our planet.  It may seem like “no big deal” to dump that partially eaten sandwich in the landfill bin.  Yet, when organic waste decomposes in the landfill, it emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide and a major contributor to climate change. Proper recycling and composting is one of the easiest and most important things we can do as individuals to combat the climate emergency.

Recycling and Composting Visual Graphic
Climate Justice Committee member, Lucinda Young, heads up the Recycling and Composting program at UUCB.  Click HERE for a valuable graphic of what items should be sorted into what bins at UUCB (Note these instructions vary from those for other cities.).  Email socialjustice@uucb.org and address Lucinda Young for more information.

Our Vision for Future Work
Our vision is to be a strong local force inspiring everyone to do their part, large or small, to address climate change and issues of environmental justice. UUCB can be a center of inspiration, community resilience and hope in the face of the anxiety and challenges many people experience in our warming world. We’ll continue to reduce the carbon footprint of our facility and keep our landscaping friendly to biodiversity. We hope to become a certified UU Green Sanctuary. 

Ongoing education and information
We send out information about the climate crisis everyone can act on, including notices of community protests and opportunities to advocate for just policies and practices.  We invite presentations from guest speakers to help us live a more climate-friendly, socially- and environmentally-just life. Please email socialjustice@uucb.org and address to Dr. Sheila Tarbet to be added to the mailing list for Climate Justice Committee meeting times, current climate news, legislative actions and encouragement. We’re all in this together and there’s an important role here YOU can play. Please join us!”

Presentations
Healthy Air For All – Time for Action – March 27, 2022

The Social Justice Council of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley (UUCB) sponsored a “Healthy Air For All” presentation by Climate Health Now Members,
Dr. Teresa Elena Munoz, OB-GYN, Kaiser, Richmond and Dr. Juan Aguilera, Ph.D., M.D., post-doctoral research fellow from Sean Parker Center, Stanford.

Topic

How air pollution harms us, who’s most vulnerable, which communities suffer the most, and how we can take collective action for health and environmental justice.

Drs. Munoz and Aguilera shared scientific expertise and real-world experience about how climate-related air pollution affects vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, and those living with asthma, cardiorespiratory diseases, and other conditions, especially among lower-income neighborhoods of color.

Replay

0:00                 Sheldon Jones, Chair of UUCB’s Social Justice
0:60                 Dr. Sheila Tarbet, Member of UUCB Social Justice Council’s Environmental Justice and member of Elders Climate Action
0:6:25              Introduction of Dr. Theresa Munoz
0:7:55              Dr. Teresa Elena Munoz, MD Presentation
0:39:11            Introduction of Dr. Alex Aguilera
0:40:35            Dr. Juan Aguilera, MD, PhD, MPH Presentation
1:00:00            Q&A Curated by Jason Russell, Member UUCB
1:16:25            Deb Lloyd, UUCB and Elders Climate Action Member,
“Climate Action Now” App presentation (iPhone/Android)
1:21:30            Q&A Continuation
1:51:45            Closing Comments by Dr. Sheila Tarbet – Call to Action

Slide Deck for Dr. Aguilera – Click HERE