Solar photovoltaic energy for mitigation of climate change: A catalytic application of catholic social thought

Authors

Joshua M. Pearce, Queen’s UniversityFollow
Anna L. Santini, Pennsylvania State University
Jennifer M. DeSilva, Eastern Connecticut State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2009

Volume

13

Issue

1

Journal

Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion

First Page

92

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1163/156853508X394526

Last Page

118

Abstract

This paper explores an application of Catholic theology to mitigate the current destruction of God's creation underway due to global climate destabilization. Specifically it describes the possibility of the U.S. Catholic Church adopting a systematic plan to catalyze the world energy market to shift to solar photovoltaic energy, a non-polluting renewable energy source. The science behind the ecological crisis and climate change in the context of the Catholic basis for environmental stewardship is summarized to provide a moral foundation for the plan. Then, the viability and ramifications of integrating solar photovoltaic systems in all U.S. Catholic Churches is analyzed from technical, economic, and ethical perspectives. © 2009 Brill Academic Publishers.