Brian Roewe

Faith leaders have met with Texas state lawmakers and testified at hearings about the winter power outages, calling on them to mandate weatherization of the energy grid, end demand-based pricing structures, and help residents pay for repairs and recovery.

In 2011, "Journey of the Universe" portrayed the nearly 14-billion-year history of the universe, from the Big Bang to human life today. Ten years later, EarthBeat spoke with one of the producers about the film's impact.

President Joe Biden unveiled his $2 trillion American Jobs Plan on March 31, and environmental groups want to make sure he honors a campaign pledge to rebuild U.S. infrastructure post-COVID-19 in more just, equitable and sustainable ways.

Speaking at an online conference sponsored by St. John's University, Satya Tripathi, head of the U.N. Environment Program's New York office, said that "Mother Nature will go on," regardless of what happens to humans.

"The U.S. Catholic response has not been anywhere near what is commensurate with the science and the magnitude of what [Pope] Francis describes as the climate emergency," said Daniel DiLeo, assistant theology professor at Creighton University.

Ocean pollution "poses serious threats to human health and well-being," but it can still be halted, according to a report from 44 scientists in 20-plus countries. The Vatican's "Aqua fons vitae" talks about similar connections, which are planned for discussions this week to mark World Water Day.

Dejah Powell radiates passion when she speaks about the Sunrise Movement and the work she and other young people are doing to press for action on climate change and fight for a Green New Deal.

After the pandemic prevented last year's conference, Loyola Chicago's School of Environmental Sustainability returned with a virtual meeting this year on the theme of "Accompanying Youth to a Hope-filled Future."

Deb Haaland is set to become the first Native American to serve in the Cabinet when she is sworn in March 17 as the secretary of the interior, custodian of the nation's 500 million acres of public lands.

On Thursday faith groups called for governments and financial institutions to take 10 specific steps to accelerate action on climate change. More than 400 events were held in 42 countries as part of the multifaith day of action.

The pandemic strained complex food supply systems in the U.S. and around the world. Experts say the pandemic has offered a glimpse of food supply problems that can be expected as global temperatures continue to rise.

In an interreligious dialogue on Feb. 23 with Rabbi David Rosen and Imam Saffet Abid Catovic, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich said, "It is really up to us to challenge how so many believing people, faith-filled people, have bought into a libertarian notion of the world and the economy as something that we are to dominate for our own profit."

Where science and economics have come up short in compelling action, the Rev. Jim Antal said March 2 that religion can offer the inspiration needed for wider swaths of society to address the challenge of climate change.

The mobilization effort will focus on four main areas: advocacy, community resilience, education and ecological spirituality. The hope is that young Catholics will mold the program to support what they want to do to further environmental stewardship.

For more than 30 years, Hazel Johnson worked to clean up her corner of Chicago's southeast side. Ten years after her death in January 2011, Johnson's contributions to environmental justice continue to resonate — at a time when the movement has reached new heights around the country and in the White House.

The Adorers of the Blood of Christ, who tried to stop a natural gas pipeline from crossing their land by building a chapel, are now seeking damages in court from the energy company that constructed it.

Faith leaders described the struggles facing Texans because of the freeze: Temperatures in homes hovering at 30 degrees. Elderly people unable to use dialysis machines. A 76-year-old sleeping in her car for warmth.

Fr. Emmet Farrell developed daily Lenten reflections to help Catholics better understand climate change as one of the world's most pressing moral issues. EarthBeat will publish them three days a week.

Native tribes and faith leaders are together calling on President Joe Biden to intervene in the ongoing construction of Enbridge Energy's long-contested Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota.

How are Catholics and other faith communities addressing issues related to climate change and environmental justice? The annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering shared some answers, countering with the Gospel the "doom-and-gloom" narrative that often frames the issues.