fbpx
Return to Path of Hope Home
Climate Hero: Tracey DePasquale

Tracey DePasquale is the Executive Director of Lutheran Assistance Ministries of Pennsylvania (LAMPa).

Unit 3 Faith Leaders
  • Tracey DePasquale
  • Rev. Michael Malcom
  • John Hill
  • Adrian Shell
Unit 3 Climate Decoders
  • Lynnia Main
  • Jamie Williams
  • Ibis Fernández
  • Patty Fergusan-Bohnee
  • Ilka Vega
Theme
Climate change is precipitating major shifts in economic systems. Around the world, people are facing the need to adapt to the changing climate. Some people find themselves and their jobs are becoming collateral damage in the fight to minimize climate impacts. Our faiths teach us that every human person matters: we can’t allow anyone to be left behind as global systems shift.
Meeting Plan
Opening Reflection (5 min) 

Consider opening your meeting with a prayer or reading from your faith tradition that focuses on how your faith calls you to honor others. See some examples under the Resources section of this study guide, or feel free to use whatever speaks to your group.

Watch video (15 min)

Discussion (20 min)

Follow the guidance in Unit 1 for organizing and recording your discussion.

Work on Action Plan (10 min)

You might be doing some of your actions next week; if so, use this time to make sure you have all your “ducks in a row.” If you are doing an ongoing project like a Climate Ribbon or bulletin board, this is a good time to discuss how to archive those projects when your study is over.

Wrap Up (10 min)

Invite each group member to say one thing they learned today that made them feel motivated to take action.

Learning Objectives
  1. Understand “Adaptation” and “Just Transition” as climate policy terms
  2. Understand how climate impacts workers in different sectors
  3. Learn what is needed for people and communities to adapt to climate change
Key Takeaways
  1. Adaptation is necessary because climate change is already occurring
  2. Indigenous communities must have voices in adaptation planning
  3. Just Transition is a component of social justice
  4. All parts of the world will have to adapt to climate change impacts, but some areas are much more impacted than others currently.
Discussion Questions
  1. How have you had to adapt to a change in your environment?
  2. What resources were available to help you adapt?
  3. What do you think would be an easy change for you to adapt to?
  4. What would be a hard change to adapt to?
  5. In what ways has your field of work or study had to adapt or transition? Did that happen before or after you were involved?
  6. Have you ever had a job doing work that some people considered unhealthy or bad? If so, how did you feel about your work and yourself when you were doing that job? Why did you do that job?
  7. What level of public resources should be dedicated to retraining or otherwise transitioning workers whose jobs become obsolete?
  8. Ibis Fernandez says in Episode 3, “We are all in the same boat, as they say—but not everyone in the boat is going to survive because the boat has first, second, and third-class passengers.” How do you respond? 
  9. Under what circumstances is it wrong to adapt to change? What are the alternatives?
  10. How resilient is your local community to climate change? What are its greatest vulnerabilities?