UPDATE: September 15, 2022
L.A. Faith & Ecology Network is committed, by advocacy and action to three priorities in 2022:
- The phasing out of oil & gas drilling in the state
- Addressing the drought through water conservation and beneficial landscaping
- Supporting measures that address extreme heat, particularly in under-served communities
In terms of #1, in January 2022, L.A. City Council passed a resolution banning new oil wells in the city. This is just the first step in a process to eliminate fossil fuel extraction, which has endangered public health for decades. On a related note, in September 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB 1137 into law, that sets up a 3,200 foot health and safety setbacks between oil and gas extraction sites and homes, schools, and recreational centers.
The second priority has received a great deal of attention from the faith community in terms of practical water conservation at houses of worship, and education to members. A great example is St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Los Angeles that, almost a decade ago, transformed outside property to beautiful Xeriscaping. Plants include native milkweed that attracts bees and butterflies, and beautiful low-need flowers. Allis Druffel gave a presentation at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange addressing the spirituality of water and our intimate inter-connection of all life through water.
LAFEN and the California faith community were strong on #3 in 2022, through the advocacy of AB 2076 (Rivas.) AB 2076 highlighted some of the same efforts as AB 535 in 2021, which died in Senate Appropriations. Sadly, AB 2076 met with the same fate in August 2022. We will continue to follow legislation and campaigns aimed at ameliorating the effects of extreme heat, especially in historically under-resourced areas in which folks are hit hardest by heat.
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JANUARY 2021
The Los Angeles Faith & Ecology Network (LAFEN) launched in late 2020 as a partnership between California Interfaith Power & Light and The International Center for Sustainable Development, located in Jerusalem. It was conceived as way for the faith community to strengthen its collective voice on the moral and pressing issue of our day: the climate crisis. ICSD had held several workshops with the California faith community on best ways to build a sustainability planet.
This “joining of forces” is a foundational requirement in building capacity to tackle the multiple environmental crises in California: extreme heat and the need for adaptation; increased severity and duration of destructive wildfires; and a severe drought. In approaching climate solutions, there is also the clear opportunity to dismantle the structures of racism and other injustices through clean job training and placement; pollution reduction that will improve public health; and renewed respect for and celebration of all Creation.
In the last year, some 30 houses of worship and faith leaders have been active in LAFEN. Our official public “kick-off” took place on November 16, and highlighted some of the most pressing issues facing the Los Angeles region. As a result, at LAFEN’s December 2021 meeting, three issues were adopted as areas of advocacy in 2022: the phase out of oil and gas drilling; the drought and water conservation techniques; and extreme heat and adaptation measures, especially in under-served communities.
For more information and to become involved, contact Allis Druffel at allis@interfaithpower.org.