CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS ARCHIVE
Below find information and recordings of Climate Conversations from June 2022 through December 2024. For more recent and upcoming conversations, please visit the main page here.
2024
DECEMBER 12, 2024
Reduce Plastic to Avoid Gigatons of Carbon Emissions & Improve Health
Plastic is pervasive in our lives. Buying groceries in plastic packaging, gadgets made of plastic, plastic furniture and plastic bottles are just a few of the many places we use plastic. Reducing plastic production and usage could avoid 166 million metric tons of plastic by 2050 and avoid more than 5 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions. We’ll start by considering all the places we use plastic, then discuss how to avoid it. We’ll also look at alternatives to plastic, how we can influence others to use less plastic, and new solutions that can replace plastic. Learn how to use less plastic in your everyday life.
The slides for this presentation can be found here.
NOVEMBER 14, 2024
Eat Pizza for the Planet—Making Meals that Reduce Climate Change
Two of the top 10 things people can do to reverse global warming, Project Drawdown found, are reducing food waste and eating a plant-rich diet. Despite what we think, our diets may not be as climate-friendly as we think. We’ll dig into the details to find out why our food has so much impact and what we can do about it. Come to learn new things, join in the discussion, and take actions in your everyday life to fight climate change.
The slides from this conversation can be downloaded here.
OCTOBER 10, 2024
Plant Trees for Cleaner, Healthier, Cooler Air
Trees provide a multitude of benefits, including reducing climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, protecting against floods, providing shade that cools urban areas and gardens as well as fields or streams, and enhancing neighborhood ambience. Whether you plant a single tree or help communities plant trees, your efforts can help to care for creation. We’ll discuss why and how to plant trees, what species to select for a warmer future, ways to get free or low-cost trees, and how to participate in local or city tree-planting initiatives.
The slides from this conversation can be downloaded here.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
A Season of Creation
Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. It is a special season where we celebrate God as Creator and acknowledge Creation as the divine continuing act that summons us as collaborators to love and care for the gift of all that is created. This year, the theme for the season is “To hope and act with Creation”. Amid the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and eco-anxiety among some, we are called to lift the hope inspired by our faith in concrete actions of prayer, service and solidarity. We will discuss the background of the Season of Creation, what it means for us and actions we can take during the month.
The slides from this presentation can be downloaded here.
AUGUST 8, 2024
How to Cope with Seattle’s Shift from Water Deluges to the Now-Frequent Droughts
Not long ago, droughts in Western Washington seemed unimaginable. Droughts now seem to happen on a regular basis, though, and water cutbacks have been required. We’ll share some of the science behind these shifts and the outlook for the future. We’ll then look at how we can prepare for drier times in our homes or gardens and how to participate in policy decisions that can help us cope.
The following links were shared:
- U.S. Drought Monitor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Climate Re-analyzer from the University of Maine
The slides from this conversation can be downloaded here.
JULY 11, 2024
Heat! How to Stay Cool, Sustainably, and How to Prepare for Hotter Summers
While the temperatures in June of 2021 still rank as the hottest days in Seattle, summers before and after have been hotter too. When we want to stay cool, using air conditioners or buying new clothes and gadgets can exacerbate climate change. Join the Creation Care Ministry to learn about trends in temperatures in Seattle summers, what we can do to reduce the impact of higher temperatures on our bodies and homes, and how to stay cool in eco-friendly ways. We’ll also discuss research on innovative solutions such as topping buildings with white roofs, adding green spaces or water to urban areas, and developing materials that make buildings and clothes better able to reflect thermal radiation that can keep us cool without compounding climate change.
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
JUNE 13, 2024
Solar, Wind, and Geothermal Energy, and How to Tap Renewable Energy
While solar panels on roofs get the most attention for renewable energy, there are plenty of other options. Wind and geothermal, and other sustainable sources of energy are being used to provide the quickly-increasing amounts of electricity we need to power everything from lights and ovens to EVs and phones. We’ll discuss the variety of sources of renewable energy, how you can use them, and how to ensure a reliable power supply with storage, microgrids, or other innovative solutions.
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
MAY 9, 2024
Farms for a Sustainable Future and How to Support Farmers with guest, farmer Tyler Morse
Tyler Morse of Brier Patch Farm will join host, Richard Hartung for this month’s discussion. Farms across the state produce food for those of us who live here as well as for the nation and the world. Farmers are changing their practices to be more eco-friendly, which can save time, money, resources and the environment. We’ll compare traditional practices with modern ones, look at innovative solutions farmers use now to farm better, and consider organic farming. Along with learning about farming practices, we'll also explore how you can support farmers better through what you purchase, where, and how you purchase it.
The following resources were shared:
-
- Tilth Alliance's Maritime Northwest Garden Guide (Second Edition)
- Biodynamic Gardening: Grow Healthy Plants and Amazing Produce by "DK"
- JADAM Organic Farming (Second Edition) by Youngsang Cho – a book describing the innovative farming technology developed by of JADAM Organic Farming institute and collective in Korea
- Dr. Elaine Ingham's SOILFOODWEB School
- The Weston A. Price Foundation
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
APRIL 11, 2024
Money for Good: How to Give or Invest with your Values and Climate Goals
Philanthropy for good, giving for impact and faith-driven investing are becoming more prominent, and they’re critically important for managing our resources, large or small, in line with our personal and faith values. As believers in Creation Care, it is essential that our giving to organizations and family or friends, and our investing, reflect our values and our concern for God’s creation. We’ll discuss how to align your values with your money for investing or giving or even everyday expenses and how to use our financial resources in ways that reflect what’s truly important in our lives.
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
MARCH 7, 2024
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a ritual for many, whenever it happens. Along with cleaning, the ritual often includes sorting and disposing of unused or unwanted items. Simple as these activities may seem, practices that are less eco-friendly and replacing items that are given away may harm the planet. We’ll discuss the rituals of spring cleaning, how to clean more effectively, what to do with items that are no longer needed, and how to avoid having disposal of one item lead to purchases of more. We’ll also provide tips on how to make that cleaning enjoyable and reduce your stress.
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Innovations to Stop Global Warming
From data for farmers to improve crop yield and fabrics made of agricultural waste to electric ferries or planes and planet-friendly pet food, start-ups are developing highly innovative solutions that are good for people and the planet. Learn about everything from leading-edge innovations that are breaking technical boundaries to ones you can use every day. As a takeaway, we’ll discuss how you can also help reduce climate change by using some of these ideas, as research shows that concerted efforts by early adopters may drive growth of new technologies.
The slides from this presentation can be seen here.
JANUARY 11, 2024
Climate Policy: The Impact on Your Life, Your Pocketbook and the Planet
The Washington State legislature will take up several bills in 2024 related to climate. Beyond the state legislature, there are national, county, and Seattle city regulations that will affect what we can or cannot do, how much we’ll pay for services, and what companies or other organizations need to do about climate change. We’ll provide an overview of key policy issues from the city to the national level, then look at how they affect each of us in our daily activities, our finances and the air we breathe or the water we drink. Join us to find out more about and discuss the practical implications of what may seem like an esoteric topic.
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
2023
DECEMBER 14, 2023
Food that is Better for the Planet and your Pocketbook
NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with a Creation Care Mindset
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
OCTOBER 12, 2023
Save Money by Caring for Creation
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
Simple Seattle Solutions to be a Voice for Conservation and Creation Care
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
AUGUST 10, 2023
Stay Stylish with Climate-friendly Clothing Choices
This conversation was inadvertently not recorded.
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
JULY 13, 2023
Changing our Daily Routine to Save the Planet
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
JUNE 8, 2023
Practical Ideas to Use Renewable Energy
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023
Plan, Cook, and Eat Great Meals
The slides from this presentation are now available here.
APRIL 11, 2023
Recycle
Resources from our presenter from Recology:
- To find a plastic bag receptacle near you: https://bagandfilmrecycling.org/
- King County’s “What do I do with…?” tool where you can search for how to/where to drop specific items that are bulky/uncommon: https://info.kingcounty.gov/services/recycling-garbage/solid-waste/what-do-i-do-with/
- Seattle Public Utility’s “Where Does It Go?” tool for how to dispose of smaller household items: https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/collection-and-disposal/where-does-it-go#/a-z
Download the slides from this presentation here.
2022
DECEMBER 6, 2022
Creation Care Perspectives on Shopping at Christmas Time
Here is the poem shared during the event: Slow me down, Lord.
The slides from the presentation may be seen here.
NOVEMBER 1, 2022
Investing with Your Values ( with Penelope Jackson & Richard Hartung)
Penelope Jackson shared the following resources during the presentations:
- ESG (Environmental/Social/Governance criteria) FAQ
- Responsible Investing Glossary
- How to find an Investment Advisor
- The Carbon Almanac
The slides from this presentation may be seen here.
OCTOBER 4, 2022
What you can do about Transportation
The slides from the presentation may be seen here.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2022
What you can do on the Carbon Tracker
The slides from the presentation may be seen here.
JULY 5, 2022
What you can do about Energy (with Richard Wesley & Richard Hartung)
The slides from this presentation may be seen here.
JUNE 7, 2022
What you can do about Food (with Marc Aubertin & Richard Hartung)
The slides from the presentation may be seen here.