Global Climate Change Campaigns

Global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase average temperatures by 2.5 to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit in this century—bringing rising seas, major weather and agricultural disruptions, environmental refugees, migrating diseases, and other dangers which most harm the planet’s poor and vulnerable. The United States, with less than five percent of the world’s population, contributes 25% of these emissions. Addressing climate change is a clear matter of justice among the various nations of the world and between our and future generations.

COEJL provides a strong Jewish voice on climate change and energy policy in Washington, D.C. Through its chapters, national partner agencies, and electronic advocacy network, COEJL mobilizes the Jewish community to advocate on a wide range of environmental issues, with a particular focus on global climate change and energy conservation. Much of COEJL’s advocacy work occurs with other members of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment: the National Council of Churches, the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, and the Evangelical Environmental Network.

COEJL's Global Climate Change and Energy Campaigns have targeted major points in regards to these issues:

2006 - COEJL launches a nationwide Four-Part Climate Change Campaign to address the climate change crisis. The first part of the campaign: " A Light Among the Nations" will engage the Jewish community in awareness, advocacy, and concrete action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This modern day commemoration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, will include helping congregations, Jewish institutions, and individuals purchase and install energy efficient, cost effective compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs during Hanukkah, 2006, and promote energy conservation and sustainable legislation. Click here for the latest update on the campaign.

In addition to our speakers guide for environmental speakers, we have compiled a special list of Jewish scientists who are willing to speak in synagogues and other Jewish venues about the science behind climate change.  We encourage you to "Take a Scientist to Synagogue" to educate and motivate the community to action!  

COEJL played a key role in creating the Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign which is among the largest field operations on energy and climate issues in the U.S. and has gained widespread recognition in the press and on Capitol Hill. ICEC has built a state of the art electronic advocacy system, the Interfaith Climate Change Action Network.

More than 600 rabbis signed a “Let There Be Light” Open Letter on Energy Use to President Bush and Congress. 1,200 religious leaders, including a many notable national Jewish leaders and more than 200 rabbis, signed an Interfaith Letter on Energy Policy that was delivered to every Senate office along with relevant press clippings.

In October 2005, COEJL spearheaded an Interfaith Letter to Congress Supporting Raising CAFE Standards signed by major religious groups and delivered to all Congressional Representatives on the Hill.

COEJL is presently a featured partner of The Virtual March to Stop Global Warming.

• Four-Part Climate Change Campaign
• Take a Scientist to Synagogue
• COEJL's Climate Change Resources
• An Inconvenient Truth - info and study guide
• Climate Change and Energy News
• Green Your Camp
• Global Warming: A Jewish Response
• During ‘The Feast of Lights’ be mindful of conservation
• Global Warming: Why Jews Should Care
• Global Climate Change Links
• Energy Security: If Not Now, When? (2003)
• Clean Car Campaign
• Clean Car Campaign Links
• Interfaith Climate Change Action Network
• Action Alert Archive