The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change has released the responses they have received from six faith organizations: Interfaith Power and Light; the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs; the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; the Friends Committee on National Legislation; the Evangelical Environmental Network; the National Council of the Churches of Christ.
Faith leaders described climate change as a moral issue, and expressed concern that low-income communities across the globe are disproportionately affected by climate change. They suggested tangible actions that Congress and the Administration can take to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In his “Time to Wake Up The Faith-Based Community and Climate Change” speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) highlighted the faith community’s responses, saying,
“Interfaith Power and Light, a national faith-based campaign against global warming, tells us that its “[forty] state affiliates and thousands of congregations view a swift and equitable transition to a clean energy economy as our moral responsibility, and are prepared to support [the Task Force’s] efforts every step of the way.”
These religious leaders and groups are, unlike Congress, not sleepwalking through history. Faith groups throughout America are acting on their sense of spirit, justice, and stewardship, and are mobilizing locally to combat and prepare for the effects of climate change.”
The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change will continue to release responses from other sectors that have weighed in to support action on climate change. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) serve as co-chairs of the Task Force.
See full speech here:
http://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/climatechange
