H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, would prevent the Trump administration from using any funds to withdraw from the vital Paris Climate Agreement. It would also require the administration to develop plans to meet our emissions reductions goals in the agreement.
The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the agreement is an irresponsible dereliction of our duty to protect our planet as well as a demonstration of an unwillingness to work with the international community on crucial issues. In a time when climate impacts—extreme weather events, wildfires, water shortages, among many others—are becoming more intense and frequent, we cannot afford to pretend climate change is not a pressing issue in this way.
FCNL joined with 30 national religious organization in sending a letter to Congress urging support for H.R. 9.
April 29, 2019
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
As religious organizations representing a variety of faith traditions, we ask that you support H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, legislation that is intended to keep the United States in the Paris Agreement, an international agreement aimed at curbing climate change, and to require the Administration to assemble a plan to meet our commitments under the agreement.
Through our faith, we are united behind common moral values that call us to protect and assist vulnerable populations, to defend our children’s health, to care for God’s creation, and to fulfill our obligations to future generations. It is through these values that we view climate change as a threat to God’s people and creation. We believe that it is essential that U.S. leadership takes action to address climate change and that the Paris Climate Agreement is key in coordinating international action against this threat.
We share a deep conviction that we have one earth and must steward it responsibly. Global climate change presents an unprecedented threat to the integrity of life on earth and a challenge to values that bind us together. We know that the consequences of climate change are not felt equally across communities within our own country and those around the world. Vulnerable populations including women, children, and marginalized and impoverished communities disproportionately suffer from the impacts of hurricanes, floods, droughts, famines, and water scarcity. These impacts fall most heavily on those who have done the least to create the problem and who possess the fewest resources to adapt.
Our notion of the common good calls us to be in solidarity with those impacted by climate change while avoiding the temptation to pass this problem along to future generations as a result of our own neglect or narrow interests.
It is urgent that the United States stays in the Paris Agreement if we are to meet our moral obligations to protect God’s earth and God’s people. For these reasons, we urge you to support H.R. 9 as an important component of necessary climate action.
Respectfully yours,
The Church Investment Group Church World Service
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach
Creation Justice Ministries
Disciples Center for Public Witness
Dominicans of Sinsinawa
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Franciscan Action Network
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Hazon
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Interfaith Power & Light
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Office of Justice and Ecology of the Jesuit Conference
Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church in North America Passionist Solidarity Network
The Priests of the Sacred Heart, US Province
Presbyterian Church USA
Region VI Coalition for Responsible Investment
Seventh Generation Interfaith Inc.
Sisters of Bon Secours, USA
Sisters of the Humility of Mary
School Sisters of Notre Dame Cooperative Investment Fund
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Institute Justice Team
Union for Reform Judaism
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist for Social Justice
Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
Young Evangelicals for Climate Action