(RNS)—Catholics and Hispanics are amongst probably the most concerned within the U.S. concerning the impact of climate change, with Gen Z and millennials more prone to take collective motion on the matter, in keeping with a recent survey commissioned by the international humanitarian agency Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
While a majority of Americans (81 percent) are very or somewhat concerned concerning the impact of climate change within the U.S., Hispanics (92 percent) were amongst probably the most frightened about it, compared with Black (86 percent) and white (76 percent) respondents.
Gen Z (84 percent) and millennials (87 percent) are more likely than Gen X (76 percent) to voice concerns concerning the impact of climate change within the U.S.
When factoring in faith, more Catholics (85 percent) expressed concern concerning the effects of climate change within the U.S. than non-Catholic respondents (79 percent).
More Catholics expressed concern concerning the effects of climate change within the U.S. than non-Catholic respondents.
Moreover, American Catholics were found to be five times more likely to precise that climate change is a shared responsibility than their non-Catholic counterparts—a finding that resonated with Bill O’Keefe, who’s Catholic Relief Services’ executive vice chairman of mission, mobilization and advocacy.
“I’m not surprised by that given our church teaching concerning the common good, and our take care of the poor, and our Holy Father’s leadership, in connecting through ‘Laudato Si’,’ the take care of our surroundings and take care of vulnerable human beings,” O’Keefe said in a virtual news conference on Tuesday (Oct. 4), when the survey’s findings were released.
“The gospel calls us to take care of creation,” O’Keefe added.
Conducted online Aug. 24-30 this yr, the survey included 2,009 U.S. adults. The outcomes were analyzed in total in addition to by generation, region, race/ethnicity and non secular affiliation (Catholic versus non-Catholic). About one in 4 survey participants (24 percent) described their religious affiliation as Catholic. The survey’s report didn’t provide a breakdown of the participants’ various faiths, except for Catholicism, and the way that corresponded with their responses.
Brittany Wichtendahl, a spokesperson for CRS, said the agency focused on Catholic and Hispanic demographics.
“As a corporation of the U.S. Catholic Church, we were particularly thinking about the perspectives of Catholics in addition to Hispanics within the U.S., being the fastest growing Catholic demographic,” Wichtendahl said, adding that respondents didn’t understand it was a Catholic-sponsored survey.
“We were particularly thinking about the perspectives of Catholics in addition to Hispanics within the U.S., being the fastest growing Catholic demographic,” Brittany Wichtendahl, a spokesperson for CRS, said.
These findings are available in the wake of recent international climate emergencies, including massive flooding in Pakistan that left a 3rd of the country under water, displaced thousands and thousands and killed greater than 1,600 people. CRS, which operates in greater than 100 countries, arrange a relief fund and provided immediate money assistance to greater than 3,800 families affected by the flooding. The agency has also begun to assist hundreds of households get their water sources repaired.
The survey can also be a part of the agency’s recent campaign to mobilize Catholics within the U.S. and others to support programming that helps provide farmers with drought-tolerant seeds and that creates evacuation plans in disaster-prone areas impacted by powerful storms. The agency is creating chapters and clubs in high schools, colleges and parishes. CRS can also be urging Congress to offer funding for the Green Climate Fund, which underwrites major renewable energy projects.
Lheslye Perez, chief of party for CRS in Guatemala, said the country has experienced more frequent and stronger storms. Two recent tropical storms destroyed potato crops within the Guatemalan region of Chortiz. High humidity also contributed to the death of sheep and goats, that are predominant sources of income within the region.
She said CRS helped with food and hygiene products but fears that “this example can and can occur again.” Perez, on the news conference, recalled a resident telling her that despite not gaining access to electricity or protected water, their “biggest challenge is that we have now been forgotten.”
“The poorest families, probably the most vulnerable are those who pay the toughest consequences of climate change,” she said.
Overall, the CRS survey found that a majority of Americans agree immediate motion is vital to limit the impact of climate change within the U.S. (75 percent) and other countries (69 percent), and greater than half (55 percent) feel the U.S. has a responsibility to assist countries affected by the consequences of climate change. “Gen Z and millennials particularly feel this sense of responsibility to other countries,” the survey found.
“The poorest families, probably the most vulnerable are those who pay the toughest consequences of climate change,” Lheslye Perez, chief of party for CRS in Guatemala, said.
Presented with a listing of words that could be related to climate change, greater than three-quarters (77 percent) of survey participants selected heat waves, while about 2 in 3 associated climate change with drought (68 percent, and/or flooding (66 percent). About 62 percent cited rising sea levels, and half (49 percent) associated it with not enough food and water.
In accordance with survey findings, most Americans (85 percent) have taken steps to scale back the impact of climate change, probably the most common being that they separated trash from items that may be recycled (64 percent). Greater than half (56 percent) have reduced water usage, and 38 percent have shifted to more eco-friendly brands. About 1 in 5 say they’ve composted (22 percent) and/or supported a corporation that fights climate change (19 percent). Fewer bought a hybrid or electric vehicle (12 percent) and/or participated in a march, protest or boycott (11 percent) to call attention to the impact of climate change.
The survey found that younger persons are the probably to take larger or more collective steps to handle climate change, with 30 percent of Gen Z and 25 percent of millennials saying they’ve supported a corporation that fights climate change, compared with 14 percent of Gen X and 16 percent of baby boomers.
Topping motivating aspects for Americans to take motion against climate change are drought-induced famines (48 percent) and catastrophic, widespread flooding (47 percent), followed by globalization (44 percent), in keeping with the survey.
Two in 5 feel they’d be motivated to act by more frequent and powerful storms (40 percent) and/or fighting for diminishing resources (39 percent). Nearly as many cite their faith/values (35 percent), while increased migration (23 percent) is least prone to spur Americans into motion to assist other countries fight the consequences of climate change, the survey found.
