In the encyclical Laudato Si, we read that in 1991, Pope Saint John Paul II expressed his concern about human misuse of the natural environment by writing that “Every effort to protect and improve our world entails profound changes in lifestyles, models of production and consumption, and the established structures of power which today govern societies” [LS 5]. He could have been talking to me about my driving habits! Incredibly, each gallon of gasoline combusted by our average car engines produces 19.5 pounds (wow!) of carbon dioxide, that invisible gas with atmospheric heat-trapping abilities (epa.gov). Not surprisingly, the recent years of 2013-2021 are among the ten ever warmest global temperatures on record since 1880 (noaa.gov). How can people of faith mitigate and reduce the impacts of our driving lives?
52 Ways to Care for Creation - Week 25
Transportation - Part 1