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WASHINGTON, DC, US, February 15, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
A coalition of evangelical leaders has called on
the U.S. government to pass national legislation that will reduce
CO2 emissions that are contributing to climate change.
A statement from the Evangelical Climate Initiative says there is
a “biblically-driven commitment to curb global warming.” It is the
first time that a major evangelical group has called for limits on
emissions. It outlines theological and policy imperatives, noting
that higher sea levels, increasingly frequent heat waves and
droughts, increased tropical diseases, and reduced agricultural
output are the likely results of small rises in global temperature.
"The most important step that can be taken at the federal level,"
the statement reads, "is to pass and implement national legislation
requiring sufficient economy-wide reductions in carbon dioxide
emissions through cost effective, market-based mechanisms such as a
cap-and-trade program."
“As individuals and as a society, we are making long-term decisions
today that will determine how much carbon dioxide we will emit in
the future, such as whether to purchase energy efficient vehicles
and appliances that will last for 10-20 years, or whether to build
more coal-burning power plants that last for 50 years rather than
investing more in energy efficiency and renewable energy,” it
states. “Much of the climate change to which we are already
committed will not be realized for several decades; the consequences
of the pollution we create now will be visited upon our children and
grandchildren.”
“The need to act now is urgent,” it continues. “The basic task for
all of the world's inhabitants is to find ways now to begin to
reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels
that are the primary cause of human-induced climate change.”
“Numerous positive actions to prevent and mitigate climate change
are being implemented across our society by state and local
governments, churches, smaller businesses, and individuals,” and
efforts focus on the use of renewables, energy efficiency,
low-emission technologies and the purchase of hybrid vehicles.
“These efforts can easily be shown to save money, save energy,
reduce global warming pollution as well as air pollution that harm
human health, and eventually pay for themselves.”
Last June, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution which affirms the use
of market-based mechanisms to reduce emissions, such as a
cap-and-trade program. A number of “major energy companies
acknowledge that this method is best both for the environment and
for business,” it adds.
The document was signed by 85 leaders of evangelical Christian
denominations, mega-church pastors, Christian colleges and
evangelical world relief organizations, including leaders of World
Vision and The Salvation Army, the two largest charitable
organizations in the U.S. Other signatories include denominational
leaders from Foursquare Gospel, Christian Reformed Church, Vineyard,
Christianity Today and Wheaton College.
“This is God's world, and any damage that we do to God's world is an
offense against God himself,” says the statement, ‘Climate Change:
An Evangelical Call to Action.’ It says Christian moral convictions
demand a response to the climate change problem, and calls on
governments, business, churches and individuals to play a role.
The group also released an opinion poll by Ellison Research that
shows strong concern among evangelicals for responsible care of the
environment, and announced an advertising campaign that will present
the themes of the climate statement through a series of national
media ads. “With God's help, we can stop global warming for our
kids, our world and our Lord,” says the television ad.
Observers note that Christian evangelical voters are heavily
represented in the political base of president George Bush, but the
30-million member National Association of Evangelicals recently
passed a motion saying there is “ongoing debate about the causes and
origins of global warming” and noting a “lack of consensus among the
evangelical community” on this issue.
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