Earth is in our hands

Promoting the seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism:
to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Our mission is to educate ourselves and others about environmental issues; advocate public policies to protect the global environment; act locally in our homes, church and city; and connect spiritually with the web of all existence. We work towards that mission by organizing educational, community-building action and service projects. Emerson was certified as a Green Sanctuary Congregation by the UUA in 2003. Check the weekly e-blast for meetings or contact us at ministryforearth@emersonhouston.org.

Additional Events Offered by IENOH
(Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston)

Rain Garden
Storm run-off a problem in your neighborhood? Consider creating a rain garden on your property to
reduce run-off. See this site: https://earthwatch.org/stories/how-build-rain-garden

Comment on LNG Expansion in Gulf Coast

Use this sample letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BARf4srfMaFnBXBsqJhze3x7jxdwdGdeK_nu8SiqmAA/edit?pli=1 to tender comments to the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) about planned LNG export expansion in the Gulf Coast. You can offer comments here: https://news.oilandgaswatch.org/template/brief/federal-agency-open-for-comment-on-major-lng-expansion-on-gulf-coast

PAST EVENTS –

Plant It Forward (PIF) empowers refugees to develop sustainable farms that provide fresh, healthy food to our community. In her talk, Farm Programs Director Rachel Lockhart Folkerts shares how PIF’s urban farmers are bending our local food system towards food sovereignty and resiliency, and explores the impact of this work on the health and social cohesion of our communities.  She’ll also address how faith communities and people of faith can get involved in the important work of Plant It Forward.

Heat in Houston: Justice Implications, Solutions, & How People of Faith Can Engage

Heat is the greatest weather-related disaster in the U.S., killing more people than any other kind of natural disaster. And, Texas is one of three states with the highest heat-related deaths. Houston’s urban heat issues are already serious and are forecasted to get much worse with the Climate Crisis. Urban heat negatively affects human and biodiversity health throughout the region, exacts a financial toll, leads to higher ozone levels, and reduces quality of life. Heat mapping in Houston has shown that high heat is more concentrated in underinvested communities and/or Communities of Color, thereby widening historic inequalities. 

Witness for the Planet

We witnessed our hope for the success of COP26, the international conference on climate change, in November 2021.

Speak Up for Old-Growth Forest Protection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has just released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) outlining its plans to conserve and monitor the conditions of old-growth forests nationwide. This is a crucial step towards fulfilling President Biden’s Executive Order to strengthen the nation’s forests. However, your voice is needed to ensure the final policy provides robust, comprehensive protection for these invaluable ecosystems. Urge the Forest Service to finalize a strong, effective policy that truly safeguards our mature and old-growth forests at this link: https://secure.everyaction.com/rZ7S2JxmiES7ssRzylSJG2

Urge Protection for the Blake Plateau
The Blake Plateau is an extraordinary undersea plateau that lies roughly 80 to 200 miles off the coasts of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. It supports the largest deep-sea coral habitat on earth and is home to an incredible array of ocean life, including whales, elusive seabirds, sea turtles, and swordfish. The deeper areas of the plateau will provide crucial refuge for deep-sea, reef-building corals as ocean temperatures rise. Relatively undisturbed for millennia, the Blake Plateau faces a range of potential industrial threats—from oil development and deep-sea mining to expanding commercial fisheries—that have harmed other oceanic regions. It needs long-lasting safeguards to secure its treasures for current and future generations. Taking steps now to safeguard special areas of the plateau from harmful extractive activities will help to secure the bounty of the Blake Plateau so that its important ecosystems can persist, long into the future. Urge President Biden to take steps now to safeguard the Blake Plateau by designating it as a National Monument using this link: https://secure.everyaction.com/wqi1ZU7G4UaeJ9GtvA8GDg2

Make your Opinions Known

Call your state senator and representative urging them to support Texas environmental and economic policies. To find out who represents you, see https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

To find out more about specific actions you can take, see  Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Environmental Justice Efforts along the Border

Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM), along with the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and UU Ministry For Earth (UUMFE), is forging a new relationship with the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas. The Esto’k Gna have been leading environmental justice efforts along the so called Mexican-American border: protecting indigenous sacred sites, resisting construction of LNG (fracked gas) terminals and accompanying pipelines, and educating people about the environmental devastation the Border Wall will cause.

Go Green

Replace non-native lawn with native grasses using Habiturf and reduce watering & mowing. Learn more at:  https://www.wildflower.org/learn/how-to/create-a-native-habiturf-lawn

Looking for ethical alternatives to Amazon? Check out options at this link: https://blog.credo.com/2024/11/07/conscious-consuming-for-the-holidays-try-these-alternatives-to-amazon/

Eating for a Healthy Planet; Your Food Choices Matter

Consider why the food we eat matters not just for our health, but for the health of all people and the planet.

We encourage members to support urban farmers, such as Plant-it-Forward Farms, by signing up for community supported agriculture (CSA) shares and by purchasing at local Farmers Markets.

Partner Organizations

  • Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston (IENOH) – an affiliate of Texas Interfaith Power and Light & Texas Impact. The purpose of IENOH is to empower the faith community in Houston to advocate and act collectively as stewards of the environment.
  • Citizen’s Environmental Coalition (CEC) – The CEC is an alliance of over 130 diverse nonprofit, governmental, professional, conservation, advocacy, and educational organizations to foster education, dialogue, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf Coast region. The weekly Houston Environmental News Update publicizes opportunities to become involved, take action, and make a difference.

  • Texas Impact, an Austin-based interfaith justice advocacy organization, is the Texas chapter of Interfaith Power and Light, with both educational 501(d)3 and advocacy 501(c)4 activities.

  • t.e.j.a.s. is a front-line community organization that works in the Manchester area of Houston, near the ship channel. Story about Bryan, one of the founders, at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/Environmental-justice-documentary-puts-spotlight-15126835.php#

Certifications

Green Sanctuary Certification (2003)

Emerson was certified as a Green Sanctuary in 2003, recognizing our work to expand eco-awareness to religious education, service, worship and sustainability of our church’s physical facilities.

LEED Certification of Delaney Hall (2006)

When Emerson began planning for Delaney Hall, the Green Sanctuary committee issued a “Lean and Green Challenge” to the architects: go as “green” as possible without adding cost to the building budget! The architects did such a good job that they themselves proposed the building for LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The architects provided extensive documentation on demolition, material selection and handling, and construction procedures. Delaney Hall is the first church building in the U.S. to be LEED certified (29 points) and the third building (of any kind) in Houston to achieve this certification. The building features sustainable design and construction methods, energy conservation, use of recycled materials, and pollution prevention techniques (air, water, light). The grounds were landscaped with native or highly adapted plants that do not need irrigation. Church policies call for integrated pest management,  avoiding pesticides, use of recycled and/or reusable products for meals and parties.