The Honorable (Name)

U.S. Senate

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator (Name),

I am gratified that Congress is crafting legislation that will address our energy use and global climate change.  I strongly urge you to support a strong, effective, and fair plan to address climate change that meets the principles outlined below.

The Catholic Church brings a distinct perspective to the debate about climate change by lifting up the moral dimensions of this issue and the needs of the most vulnerable among us.  People living in poverty – at home and abroad – contribute least to climate change but they are likely to suffer its worst consequences with few resources to adapt and respond.  The impacts of climate change – including increased temperatures, rising sea levels, increased and new threats to public health, and changes in rainfall that contribute to more frequent and severe floods and drought – make the lives of the worlds’ poorest even more precarious. 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops place the needs of poor and vulnerable people at the center of climate change legislation.  I encourage you to also support this priority by encouraging legislation that will achieve the following objectives:

•  Auction pollution allowances and devote a major portion of the proceeds to addressing impacts on consumers – particularly low and moderate income Americans – workers, vulnerable communities, and natural resources while helping the nation use energy more efficiency, shifting to renewable energy, increasing public transit;

• Invest a portion of auction proceeds, at least 7%, in international adaptation so world security may be enhanced through creating greater resiliency, social stability, and enhanced livelihoods in nations that have few emissions but are suffering first and worst from the effects of global climate change.

It is critical that much needs to be done now to mitigate climate change now to reduce long-term impacts.  We must consider the future of children and future generations.  The science makes clear that this nation must act now to stave off the worst effects of global warming.   Urgent action is needed to begin reducing the growing threat of climate change and to protect the poor and vulnerable.

I strongly support mandates that lead to prudent development of renewable energy and that mitigates global warming.

I hope you will support legislation that meets the following objectives:

• Establish current science-based pollution targets to substantially reduce total U.S. global warming emissions and require targets to be periodically updated as the science evolves;

• Strictly limit and ensure strong rules for carbon “offsets” so that our efforts to reduce pollution are effective;

• Require utilities to obtain and ever increasing amount of their electricity from renewable sources and to reduce their energy use; and

• Develop and implement energy efficiency and conservation standards in new buildings.

I offer my prayers for your work and those of your colleagues in the prudent development of legislation that meets these principles for the common good of the people of this earth.

Sincerely,

{your name}