REASON FOR THIS ALERT: The Senate is now considering the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (S. 10) on the floor. Several amendments addressing climate change are expected to be offered. We have an important opportunity to urge Congress to support any amendment that will genuinely help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, particularly as they affect the poor and other vulnerable populations.
Please contact your Senators today and urge them to support the inclusion of sensible provisions in S. 10 that will genuinely address the adverse effects of global climate change and its potential impact on the poor and vulnerable.
USCCB Policy Position
In their statement, Renewing the Earth, the US Catholic Bishops state that "the human family is charged with preserving the beauty, diversity, and integrity of creation, as well as with fostering its productivity." In their June 2001 statement, Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good, the bishops note: "Although debate continues about the extent and impact of this warming, it could be quite serious … Consequently, it seems prudent not only to continue to research and monitor this phenomenon, but to take steps now to mitigate possible negative effects in the future." The statement also calls for a less polarized public debate and more focus on the global common good. The bishops call for thoughtful dialogue that relies on the moral virtue of prudence. Prudence is not simply a cautious and safe approach, but rather a thoughtful, deliberate, and reasoned basis for taking or avoiding action to achieve a moral good.
Specifically, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopts a framework that:
• Supports strong U.S. leadership on global climate change.
• Advocates for much greater assistance to the developing nations to enable them to address global climate change using state-of-the-art technology.
• Calls for greater emphasis on energy conservation and the development of renewable and clean energy resources.
• Urges assistance to industries and workers displaced during the transition to new and more benign energy production mechanisms.
A major concern of the bishops in the current public debate is that the needs of poor people and developing nations be addressed. These countries have a right to a level of economic development that reduces poverty. Poorer countries cannot be made to bear an undue burden of the global adjustments needed to address climate change. The USCCB supports legislative provisions to assist the poor and adversely affected communities in mitigating the effects of global warming in the U.S. and developing countries. These measures must include additional foreign aid for sustainable development as well as technological assistance in adopting more benign and efficient energy production.
Please see the attached letter of June 16, 2005 from Bishop John Ricard, Chairman of the Committee on International Policy, to the US Senate urging action to address climate change and specifically the needs of the poor. For background information on climate change, go to (www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/news/climatechangeltr.htm). www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/bkgrclimate605.htm
Take Action Now!
We ask you to contact your Senators to urge them to support the inclusion of legislative provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (S. 10) that would help mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, especially the effects upon the poor and vulnerable populations, and provide significant economic and technical support to developing countries.
We also urge you to assist your bishop in sending a cover letter and a copy of the bishops’ statement, Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good, to your senators. (The statement is available at www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/globalclimate.htm).
You may contact your Senators by calling the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to their offices.
For more information, contact: Walt Grazer, Director, Environmental Justice Program, 202-541-3182 (ph); 202-541-3339 (fax); wgrazer@usccb.org; or Roxana Barillas at 202-541-3445 (ph); 202-541-3339 (fax); rbarillas@usccb.org