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Catholic Coalition on Climate Change - Putting Catholic faith into action on climate change
New Reports Show “Climate Gap”
June 17, 2009 Update
Catholic Coalition on Climate Change & U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Disappointed with American Clean Energy and Security Act
As you know, the House is nearing passage of the (HR 2454). But despite the efforts of the faith community and many of you, funding levels for international adaptation in the legislation remain woefully inadequate. The funding begins too low (less than $1 billion) with too-slow increases in the coming years. As the measure goes to the House floor as early as next week, faith leaders will continue to look for champions to carry forth this message.
In the meantime, please continue to call your U.S. Representative (202-224-3121) and urge that the funding level for international adaptation rise to at least $3.5 billion and that this level accelerate at a much faster rate. See the latest letter from the USCCB on this issue here. usccb.org/sdwp/2009-05-18-ltr-crs-usccb-to-committee-on-energy-commerce.pdf
“The Climate Gap” Highlights Inequalities of Climate Change
The University of Southern California Center for Sustainable Cities issued a report last month that reveals the sometimes hidden and often unequal impact climate change is expected to have on people of color and the poor in the United States. “The Climate Gap: Inequalities in How Climate Change Hurts Americans & How to Close the Gap” connects the dots between research on heat waves, air quality, and other challenges associated with climate change. The report explores how we might best combine efforts to both solve climate change and close the Climate Gap. Although the report focuses on California’s global warming policy, it is applicable nationally. The report also has an analysis of the federal-level American Clean Energy Security Act.
Download the report here. college.usc.edu/geography/ESPE/perepub.html
Tough Questions about Climate Change
As the political debate heats up in Congress about climate change, those in the Catholic Church advocating on behalf of poor people at home and abroad in climate change legislation and action are receiving more questions about the Church’s position on climate change, climate science, and why the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is involved in this issue. In order to address some of these questions and to assist supporters in responding, the “Frequently Asked Questions” page is posted on the Catholic Climate Covenant website here. catholicclimatecovenant.org/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/
You can also find a more detailed handout “A Catholic Approach to Climate Change Question and Answer Resource” catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/faq2.pdf which includes answers to such questions as: “What is climate change?” “Why should we be concerned about climate change?” “What is the Catholic Bishops position on climate change?” And “What is the scientific evidence for climate change?”
International Catholic Networks Support Adaptation Assistance from Wealthier Countries
CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, the largest networks (along with Catholic Relief Services) of Catholic development and relief agencies in the world came together in Lilongwe, Malawi, to send a message to the ongoing UN climate negotiations in Bonn in Germany. (The negotiations in Bonn are leading to the global summit in Copenhagen at the end of this year where world leaders will gather to seek new climate agreement to replace the current Kyoto Protocol.) In the statement, they set out their demands for an effective and just new global climate change agreement. They highlighted the need for urgent action on technologies that are key for adapting to climate change, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.
Here is an excerpt:
We have already endangered the planet and it is affecting us all. We must act now to reduce emission levels. Annex 1 [industrialized] countries need to collectively cut their emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. Each polluting country must take its responsibility and take serious steps to reduce its carbon emissions, without relying on offsetting in developing countries. It is the most vulnerable people in the poorest countries who are worst impacted by global warming. Annex 1 countries must respond by providing the necessary funding and the technology required for them to adapt. They must also be willing to make life-style changes.
See the whole statement here. cidse.org/Area_of_work/Climate_change/?id=1227
Catholic Coalition on Climate Change - Putting Catholic faith into action on climate change
New Reports Show “Climate Gap”
June 17, 2009 Update
Catholic Coalition on Climate Change & U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Disappointed with American Clean Energy and Security Act
As you know, the House is nearing passage of the (HR 2454). But despite the efforts of the faith community and many of you, funding levels for international adaptation in the legislation remain woefully inadequate. The funding begins too low (less than $1 billion) with too-slow increases in the coming years. As the measure goes to the House floor as early as next week, faith leaders will continue to look for champions to carry forth this message.
In the meantime, please continue to call your U.S. Representative (202-224-3121) and urge that the funding level for international adaptation rise to at least $3.5 billion and that this level accelerate at a much faster rate. See the latest letter from the USCCB on this issue here. usccb.org/sdwp/2009-05-18-ltr-crs-usccb-to-committee-on-energy-commerce.pdf
“The Climate Gap” Highlights Inequalities of Climate Change
The University of Southern California Center for Sustainable Cities issued a report last month that reveals the sometimes hidden and often unequal impact climate change is expected to have on people of color and the poor in the United States. “The Climate Gap: Inequalities in How Climate Change Hurts Americans & How to Close the Gap” connects the dots between research on heat waves, air quality, and other challenges associated with climate change. The report explores how we might best combine efforts to both solve climate change and close the Climate Gap. Although the report focuses on California’s global warming policy, it is applicable nationally. The report also has an analysis of the federal-level American Clean Energy Security Act.
Download the report here. college.usc.edu/geography/ESPE/perepub.html
Tough Questions about Climate Change
As the political debate heats up in Congress about climate change, those in the Catholic Church advocating on behalf of poor people at home and abroad in climate change legislation and action are receiving more questions about the Church’s position on climate change, climate science, and why the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is involved in this issue. In order to address some of these questions and to assist supporters in responding, the “Frequently Asked Questions” page is posted on the Catholic Climate Covenant website here. catholicclimatecovenant.org/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/
You can also find a more detailed handout “A Catholic Approach to Climate Change Question and Answer Resource” catholicclimatecovenant.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/faq2.pdf which includes answers to such questions as: “What is climate change?” “Why should we be concerned about climate change?” “What is the Catholic Bishops position on climate change?” And “What is the scientific evidence for climate change?”
International Catholic Networks Support Adaptation Assistance from Wealthier Countries
CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, the largest networks (along with Catholic Relief Services) of Catholic development and relief agencies in the world came together in Lilongwe, Malawi, to send a message to the ongoing UN climate negotiations in Bonn in Germany. (The negotiations in Bonn are leading to the global summit in Copenhagen at the end of this year where world leaders will gather to seek new climate agreement to replace the current Kyoto Protocol.) In the statement, they set out their demands for an effective and just new global climate change agreement. They highlighted the need for urgent action on technologies that are key for adapting to climate change, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development.
Here is an excerpt:
We have already endangered the planet and it is affecting us all. We must act now to reduce emission levels. Annex 1 [industrialized] countries need to collectively cut their emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. Each polluting country must take its responsibility and take serious steps to reduce its carbon emissions, without relying on offsetting in developing countries. It is the most vulnerable people in the poorest countries who are worst impacted by global warming. Annex 1 countries must respond by providing the necessary funding and the technology required for them to adapt. They must also be willing to make life-style changes.
See the whole statement here. cidse.org/Area_of_work/Climate_change/?id=1227
