Catholic Climate Covenant, in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching, supports the rights of people working in dangerous heat conditions.
This teaching affirms that human life and dignity, as well as the dignity of work are crucial components of our faith and caring for God’s creation. Yet there are approximately 40 heat-related deaths and 3,389 heat-related illnesses and injuries per year. Workers of color, as with most environmental justice issues, are disproportionately affected. As scorching summer heat waves grow in length and intensity due to climate change, more workers, especially those who work outdoors, are increasingly subject to heat-related stress.
Because of this, Catholic Climate Covenant and our partners urge Catholics to let the Department of Labor know that you support the Biden Administration’s recently proposed Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) rule, which would protect an estimated 36 million workers from dangerous heat conditions and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and even deaths in the workplace.
This proposed rule would create a plan to evaluate and control heat hazards in the workplace and clarify employer obligations and take the steps necessary to effectively protect employees from hazardous heat.
We strongly encourage you to fill out this form to submit a comment to the Department of Labor before Dec. 18.
ONGOING ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN:
ENCOUNTER: A NATIONAL CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
Encounter for Our Common Home is an ongoing national campaign that brings together Catholics across the country to urge our U.S. Senators to enact authentic solutions to the climate crisis. These virtual and in-person encounters with our Senators come from the foundation of our Catholic faith and in accordance with the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
We are a coalition of U.S. Catholic groups working together for our Common Home. Join Catholic Climate Covenant and our U.S. Catholic partners for this national campaign for climate solutions. This is an advocacy effort in concert with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) activities in the United States.
Sponsors include Caritas North America, Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers, Catholic Climate Covenant, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Franciscan Action Network, Laudato Si’ Movement, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, National Catholic Education Association, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, and Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ.)
Thank you for being part of this encounter!
Current Encounter Campaign Action:
We are currently advocating on the FOREST ACT
(Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade)
Download the Catholic Forest Act Talking Points.
NOTE: Phase 1 was held in 2022 but future events will be planned and the campaign is just getting started! When you join the campaign, you will be the first to hear of campaign events. View past Encounter campaign events/actions here.
Encounter Sponsors
Campaign Resources
More Advocacy Actions and Events
Past Actions and Events
Clean Cars
Thank you for joining the U.S. Catholic community in urging the EPA and Administration to act now by advancing clean car standards and moving our nation to our 100% zero-emission vehicles goal by 2035. Signatures closed on 12/1.
Thank you for signing the Clean Cars Letter! (NOTE: We will be delivering the letter next week.)
Past Action - COP27 Letter
Thank you for signing our letter to President Biden ahead of COP27
As Catholics guided by the call to care for our vulnerable neighbors and our common home, we asked the Biden Administration to exercise leadership at the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP27) with moral courage and exceptional ambition.
Our U.S. Catholic Letter, co-sponsored by nine Catholic organizations and signed by more than 4,000 U.S. Catholics, was delivered to the Biden Administration on 10/27/2022, urging them to encourage all nations to dramatically reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and provide meaningful assistance to the nations and peoples most impacted by climate change.
CO-SPONSORED BY: Catholic Climate Covenant, Sisters of Mercy, Franciscan Action Network, Catholic Health Association, Carmelite NGO, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Ignatian Solidarity Network, Laudato Si’ Movement.
