Many traditional churches bear the architecture of such a building; typically, a steeple and cross. New Northside Missionary Baptist Church here in St. Louis where I pastor is unremarkable in those typical church features. You will see some features atypical too many churches on our building as well: that being solar panels.
This atypical feature is on our church because we believe it is important to do our part, in our community, in our congregation, in our city to fight climate change and reduce carbon pollution. We also believe that good stewardship of our planet means that solar panels be a typical feature of a churches, homes, schools, businesses and any building.
On September 26, I attended an event on climate change in Washington, D.C. I shared the stage with many inspiring speakers: a doctor, a naval officer, an immigrant parent, and more. All of these participants travelled to our capital to speak out about the harms of carbon pollution and the solutions we must support in order to combat climate change. At the event, I shared the impacts climate change is having on my community and communities of color across the country and our community. I shared my church’s conviction to act.
It’s a conviction more need to share.
As African Americans today, especially in St. Louis, it’s easy to feel we face bigger problems than climate change. It’s easy to believe the environment is someone else’s concern. But if we ignore environmental concerns, we will be making a monumental mistake. We cannot condemn our children to continue to grow up in communities plagued by air pollution and the diseases and health problems that arise from an abused climate.
Let me be clear – climate change is a civil rights issue. Low-income communities and communities of color – like the one I serve – are disproportionately harmed by the air pollution from coal-fired power plants, as well as by the heat and health risks due to climate change. Around 70 percent of African Americans live in counties that violate federal air pollution standards and live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant.
It’s no surprise then that communities of color, are particularly at risk from the impacts of climate change and power plant pollution. In fact, African-American children are four times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma; they’re four times more likely to die from asthma than white children.    Â
I see the impacts of this carbon pollution, and the climate change it fuels, in my city. St. Louis has some of the worst air in this country. Some of the highest rates of asthma too. I see the impacts in my congregation. As a pastor in St. Louis, I work for those in need. And here in St. Louis, what many need are inhalers. I see the impacts in my family. My wife has asthma. My twins have asthma.
That’s why I’m so passionate about sustainable stewardship: protecting the environment and the wellbeing of our communities. Doing so also has the added benefit of saving my church $3,000 per year with solar power—allowing us to devote more resources to directly helping our congregation.
And while I’m proud of our small step, I know that our solar panels alone can’t to protect the families that we minister to every day from all the impacts of climate change and carbon pollution.
That’s why the Clean Power Plan is so important.
The Clean Power Plan is the most significant action that the United States has taken to fight climate change and reduce carbon pollution. The Clean Power Plan sets achievable limits on carbon pollution based on proven, cost-effective approaches that the power sector has been using for years to reduce emissions of harmful air pollution.
As people of faith, and stewards of the Earth and brothers to our neighbors, it’s our obligation to act to stop climate change. I urge you to write your local priest, pastor, or clergyman and encourage them to speak about climate change and its effects with their congregations in addition to contacting elected officials at all levels. It is a scientific fact that we all are being affected, and together, we all can take individual steps to act on climate. Like solar panels. Together, we can support the Clean Power Plan and improve the world for all.
Rev. Rodrick K. Burton is pastor of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church of St. Louis, Missouri.
