Young Evangelicals for Climate Action (YECA) is mobilizing students from six Christian colleges to canvass for climate votes, advocating the message, “Love God, Love Your Neighbor, Vote for Climate!” This marks YECA’s first in-person campus campaign since its 2012 founding. Despite prevailing skepticism among U.S. evangelicals, the campaign encourages evangelical communities to link the climate crisis to Christian values of compassion and stewardship.
“Faith and Climate Action”
The Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) supports the YECA initiative, stressing the biblical mandate to care for creation. EEN’s CEO, Jessica Moerman, aims to shift evangelical perspectives on climate change by framing it as an expression of faith and love for God’s creation. Her group addresses misinformation and works with pastors like Caleb Haynes to integrate climate discussions into sermons, connecting faith and environmentalism.
Overcoming Skepticism and Misinformation
Despite the group’s efforts, a 2022 Pew Research poll shows that many evangelicals remain skeptical about human-caused climate change. Political influences and conservative evangelical leaders like Donald Trump have historically dismissed climate science, further complicating the group’s mission. However, YECA’s outreach is expanding as extreme weather events increasingly impact evangelical communities.
Education and Advocacy Efforts
YECA volunteers also focus on faith-based education, running programs like nature camps and climate science classes. Teachers like Adam Hubert are incorporating climate issues into lessons, hoping to inspire future generations to take action. The Pro-Life Clean Energy Campaign, another initiative by EEN, ties air pollution to protecting unborn children, highlighting the health risks posed by environmental harm.
A Call to Evangelical Voters
EEN and YECA see evangelical voters as crucial in tackling climate change, emphasizing the responsibility of Christian voters. With strategic efforts and growing youth engagement, the movement aims to reshape evangelical attitudes, showing that caring for the planet aligns with biblical teachings and Christian values.
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Evangelical environmentalists push for climate votes as election nears: ‘Care for God’s creation’
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