Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety & Health

Save the date for the 12th annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit on March 16, 2025!

“The Earth Summit is a valuable opportunity to revitalize our community connections and raise up local leadership as together we take faithful action in response to climate change.” -The Rev. Richenda Fairhurst, Chair, EMO Creation Justice Committee and Oregon Interfaith Power & Light

Connect with people of faith & goodwill across Oregon to learn and take action together! The focus at the 2025 event will be on climate safety and health. This is a hybrid event, with a plenary session on Zoom plus local hubs hosting in-person gatherings for the community. Check back this fall to register.

COMMUNITY HOST HUBS
Would your congregation or organization like to serve as a community hub for the 2025 Earth Summit? EMO is here to help you plan your local event, and we are going to keep it simple and fun! Please complete this form, and we will follow up very soon. To learn more what to expect for the event, visit our 2024 Summit web page. You can also watch the recordings of the 2024 and 2023 plenary sessions.

DRAFT SCHEDULE
1 p.m. – Local gathering: This time is for registration, information tables and introductions. If you would like to invite representatives of local organizations and agencies to table, feel free to start at 12:30 p.m.

1:30 p.m. – Statewide Zoom plenary: Hear inspiring speakers, important information and previews of the 2:50 p.m. workshops.

2:20 p.m. – Free discussion time: Enjoy refreshments and visit information tables with local agencies and organizations involved in climate safety and health.

2:50 p.m. – Workshop Options: Offer one (or more) of these workshops based on your community’s capacity and interests. Here are some options to consider:

• • Preparing to “Be 2 Weeks Ready”: Get ready to survive for at least two weeks after a disaster. Think of it as planning a camping trip. Be 2 Weeks Ready is an eight-unit program, and EMO is offering to train your trainer(s) in advance. The Earth Summit is a great time to introduce the program to your community.
  • Asset Mapping for Community Climate Resilience: Connect with representatives of agencies, organizations and congregations who can strengthen your community’s resilience to climate impacts. With the rising risks of heat waves, wildfires, smoke pollution, flooding, etc., this is your chance to take stock. Make lists of what each entity is bringing (or can bring) to the table to help the community weather the next storm. As you do, you will continue to build the relationships and lines of communication that make resilience possible.
  • Organizing for Statewide Success: Enhance your community’s safety and health by supporting statewide campaigns that make a difference for all of us. Learn how you and your congregation can get involved.
  • Customizing the Conversation for Your Community: Instead of diving deeply into one of the topics above, you could hold a single workshop in which you summarize and discuss these topics to see where your community has the most interest. Or, if you have a team that is already planning activities for Earth Day / Earth Week, feel free to use this time to continue that important work.

3:50 p.m. – Close-out and next steps: As soon as possible after the Summit, we will follow up and take action together, locally and as a statewide community.

4 p.m. – Interfaith blessing and sending