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Chair: Jan Dash, PhD
Leadership: UU-UNO Climate Change Task Force
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Advisors: UU-UNO Climate Advisory Group
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Climate Intern
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Advisory Board Champion: Kent Price

File = Climate Strategic Plan FINAL 2013 UU-UNO.docx; 2/12/13 12:52 PM

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Motivation for UU climate action can come from many sources. First, climate change is linked to - and
increasingly will negatively impact many social justice issues that UUs care about including
immigration, human rights, peace, poverty There can be no long-term resolution to these issues
without a viable solution to climate change. Second, climate change is the premier
ethical/moral/survival issue of our time. Third, climate change impacts are starting to be observed
now, but this is a faint rumbling of the future destructive impacts if substantial action is not taken. All
countries including the US will then increasingly be affected in severe, adverse ways: economically,
environmentally, militarily, politically, medically, and psychologically. There will be no safe haven.
It is late, but not too late. We can act to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. There is no
morally acceptable or survivable alternative. Let not future generations, impacted by global warming,
say of us, "They knew but did not act". UUs can and should act. UUs have the potential to be leaders
inspiring action to make and keep our earth sustainable for all people now and in future generations.
The Seventh UU principle is to respect and promote the interdependent web of existence. The
inspirational 2006 UUA Statement of Conscience: Threat of Global Warming / Climate Change has
many concrete action items, and a main UU goal should be to implement this statement. The UU-
UNO, part of the UUA, promotes well-being, peace, and justice throughout the world. Crucial to this
effort is combating the impacts of the human-induced global warming trend of climate change. The
UU-UNO Climate Initiative will enable UUs and others to act on climate change. We can and should
all help.
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1. Vision
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The VISION of the UU-UNO Climate Change Initiative is a world made sustainable by
mitigating and when necessary adjusting to climate change, a world viable for us and for
future generations.


2. Goals
A. Long-term
i. The UN has adopted an effective FAB climate treaty
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, and the US has ratified it
ii. The US has enacted and enforced strong climate legislation including a carbon tax,
and has reduced carbon emissions below the level pledged by the US at
Copenhagen in 2009

B. Near-term goals aimed at supporting the long-term goals
i. UUs stand up internationally and publically urge strong climate action as an
ethical/moral/survival issue. UU climate action participation is increased by
emphasizing to all UU congregations the linkages between climate change and
social justice issues within an international context: immigration, human rights,
peace, poverty 10 UU congregations actively promote implementation of the
2006 UUA Climate Statement of Conscience
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ii. A network of 5 enthusiastic UU congregational Climate Action Teams exists with
the goal of advocating strong climate action and educating UUs on climate
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iii. The UU-UNO Climate Portal is the go-to climate resource for UUs with 100 hits/day
iv. An international network of climate action exists including other UU organizations
and 3 non-UU NGOs
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3. Strengths and Weaknesses
A. Strengths
i. UU ethical/moral climate advocacy potential exists, with ministerial leadership
ii. The UU-UNO Climate Initiative is well established with professional expertise and
enthusiastic volunteers
iii. The UU-UNO Climate Portal is a world-class website covering most of the wide-
ranging topics discussed at UN climate conferences. It contains educational
information and current climate news from authoritative sources on climate science,
impacts, and mitigation/adaptation what we can do strategies, renewable energies,
politics, negotiations, ethics. The Climate Portal also has a Kids Corner and teacher
climate educational ready-to-go resources.
iv. UUs have substantial scientific expertise and a positive attitude toward climate
v. Some UU climate warriors are very active

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vi. Some related programs exist in UUMFE, UUSC, UUA (Green Sanctuary), and UU
State Advocacy Networks (SANs)
vii. Awareness of climate change in US increasing with recent extreme weather. This is a
growing strength that is really an opportunity.
viii. The UU-UNO is authorized by the UNFCCC to send representatives to UNFCCC
international climate conferences

B. Weaknesses
i. UUs generally do not focus on climate change, which is not on the front page
ii. UUs generally dont see linkages between social justice issues and climate change
iii. No funding exists for the UU-UNO Climate Initiative
iv. UUs generally do not know about the UU-UNO Climate Portal
v. UUs generally do not have active climate leadership
vi. Generally low awareness of human influence on climate change in US
vii. Massive climate disinformation campaign designed to prevent action on climate. This
is both a weakness and a threat to achieving our goals.

C. Relationships
i. Editor for Climate Statement of UN NGO Committee on Sustainable Development,
for annual UN international climate conferences
ii. UU-UNO Climate Change Task Force
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, Climate Advisory Group
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, Intern
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4. Strategies

A. Engage and empower UU congregations to advocate for climate change action
B. Support UN climate change initiatives
C. Educate and involve youth in climate change action
D. Counter disinformation about climate change
E. Partner with UUA, UUMFE, UUSC, UU SANs to increase our effectiveness in
education and advocacy


5. Tactics

A. Tactics for Strategy A: Engage and empower UU congregations to advocate for climate
change action
i. Use Climate Portal to educate UUs on linkages of climate and social justice issues
ii. Spark the creation of UU Climate Action Teams (CATs) that can strengthen UU
congregational-based climate education and activism. Develop templates and
possible descriptions of CATs; distribute to all UU congregations
iii. Publicize what can we do climate action steps from the 2006 UUA Global
Warming / Climate Change Statement of Conscience to all UU congregations
iv. Clergy outreach for climate change action with pulpit climate talk packages
v. Prepares and distributes policy and analytical briefs, blogs, flyers, talks suitable
for publication in UUA publications requested by BK, or congregational
newsletters, using standard process (JWD formulates draft and is editor)
vi. UU-UNO Envoys help publicize and organize CATs in 5 UU congregations
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vii. Network CATs through regular pan-US meetings and quarterly planned actions
viii. Produce the excellent climate plays written by Doug Stewart in 5 UU
congregations
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ix. Include climate content/news from the Climate Portal and a reference to the
Climate Portal in all UU-UNO reports using standard process
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x. Conduct campaigns to write Letters to Editors to support an international climate
treaty and/or to promote climate legislation, mitigation, and adaptation action
xi. Give monthly informational/motivational climate talks at academic / local
organizations as opportunities arise
xii. Form 3 alliances with environmental / other faith organizations for climate action
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xiii. Sign 2 statements/year on climate developed by other groups as they appear
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xiv. UU-UNO sponsors a yearly climate event at UUA General Assembly
xv. UU Climate Initiative develops envoy materials for publicizing climate action in UU
Congregations
xvi. UU-UNO CCTF and CAG continue regular meetings
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xvii. UNO Director (Bruce) and Climate Initiative Chair (Jan) monthly meetings

B. Tactics for Strategy B: Support UN climate change initiatives
i. Extend UU-UNO distribution of UN NGO CSD Climate Statement to 500 NGOs
ii. Publicize the UN NGO CSD Statement more widely inside and outside the UN
iii. Attend meetings of the UN NGO CSD in NY
iv. Promote education using the Climate Portal on UN climate treaties, UN renewable
energy programs, UN technology transfer, UN Green Fund
v. Support action for UN climate programs through LTEs
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, contacts, talks
vi. Send a representative from the UU-UNO to the yearly UNFCCC international
climate conference (this would require substantial funding)
vii. Supporting UN organizations and their programs to congregations in UU-UNO
reports, e.g. the IPCC, UNEP etc.

C. Tactics for Strategy C: Educate and involve youth in climate change action
i. UU-UNO Climate Interns help establish 3 UU Youth Climate Groups
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ii. CATs organize climate education programs with REs in 20 UU Congregations
iii. 3 congregations use Climate Portal Kids Corner, Teachers climate lesson plans
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iv. UU-UNO/NYU Climate impacts program with international students (Maria)
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D. Tactics for Strategy D: Counter disinformation about climate change
i. 50 UU scientists learn about the false contrarian claims and the counter-arguments
involving climate science, climate impacts, climate mitigation/adaptation strategies
using information and links to authoritative sources already on the Climate Portal
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ii. 10 UU scientists provide beacon of truth regularly give talks, write LTE countering
false contrarian climate claims
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E. Tactics for Strategy E: Partner with UUA, UUMFE, UUSC, UU SANs to increase our
effectiveness in education and advocacy
i. Promote quarterly action events to contact state and national legislators supporting
climate legislation, support of regulations by the EPA, and institution of a climate tax
ii. Organize meetings involving climate activists from all UU organizations to get climate
back on the front page for UUs.


6. Resources Required
A. Funding - for publicity, marketing
B. Resources and volunteers for publicity, marketing
C. Resources for organization

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7. Near-term Actions
A. Get Climate tab put on front page of UUA website with link to UU-UNO Climate Portal
B. Complete policy guidelines for UU Climate Intern activities and climate content
C. Climate Intern Maria works on her important project on psychological impacts on climate
action decisions with the goal of facilitating UU climate action, and writes paper
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.
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Definitions of some terms used in the text and instructions
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1. Vision How will the world be different if this effort is successful? (This is long term and
aspirational)
2. Goals (be specific e.g. legislation passed, specific changes to quantifiable metrics)
a. Long-term e.g. next 5 to 10 years what do we hope to accomplish
b. Near-term e.g. in next 2 3 years what do we expect to accomplish?
3. Strengths Capabilities, assets and resources that contribute to progress in this area:
4. Weaknesses barriers or limitations that will need to be overcome
5. Relationships People, committee memberships, leadership positions that help in this area:
6. Strategies The 3 to 5 major areas that we need to focus on. Should be broad and long-term
7. Tactics The specific things that we need to do to move each strategy forward. Should be
very specific, so that it will be clear when it has been completed
8. Resources Required What will be needed (beyond the committee and the current budget)
to execute these tactics? This may require additional tactics, such as obtaining grants.
9. Near-term Actions what needs to happen in the next 4 to 6 weeks (for example, information
we need to gather, metrics located, contacts to be made, etc.)








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The UU-UNO Climate Change Task Force carrying out the UU-UNO Climate Initiative is
comprised of former UU-UNO Board members Dr. Jan Dash (Climate Initiative Chair), Pamela
V'Combe, Kent Price (UU-UNO/UUA Advisory Board: Climate), Larry Danos, and Steve Wade
in addition to UNO Director Bruce Knotts.

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The wider UU-UNO Climate Advisory Group CAG also includes Prof. Tony Broccoli (Rutgers
University, our scientific advisor) and Dr. Paul Dash (our climate/health advisor), Guy Quinlan,
Doug Stewart, Joel DeWitt, Natalie Shuttleworth, Robin Nelson, Rowan Van Ness, Kim Lovell
(Sierra Club), Rev. Earl Koteen, and Mark Swirsky. Our current UU-UNO Climate Intern,
Adjunct to the CAG, is Maria Dahlmann. Our Youth coordinator is Ryan Dash.

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Our current Climate Intern is Maria Dahlmann (2013).