Environment

On May 21, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which lays out a detailed plan to cut U.S. consumption of fossil fuels.  While the bill is a welcome step in the right direction, it contains serous flaws, including compromises that would critically undermine the primary goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and insufficient attention to people in poverty.  There is need to strengthen this legislation before it comes to a vote in the House. 

FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) urges messages to representatives calling for strengthening the bill by: 1) requiring quick, deep, and real cuts in greenhouse gas emissions before 2020; 2) eliminating provisions that allow polluters to continue polluting at current levels for over a decade; 3) removing free giveaways of pollution allowances to industry.  To send a message through FCNL go to www.fcnl.org and see “Energy Bill needs To Be Strengthened.”

Catholic Coalition on Climate Change: The Coalition has worked for increases in the amount of international adaptation funding that reflects the growing climate change impacts faced by vulnerable people in the world’s poorest countries, and urges calls and messages to representatives stating the necessity of increased funding resources committed to international adaptation.  A copy of the joint letter from the USCCB and CRS www.crs.org to the members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is attached.  If you have not yet seen the resource “Who’s under your carbon footprint?” and taken the St. Francis Pledge, please go to www.catholicclimatecovenant.org.

The first ever comprehensive energy and climate bill to be considered by the House of Representatives is being conducted in Congress. This legislation, The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), will require polluters to pay for the costs of dumping harmful carbon pollution into the air, and will jumpstart clean energy development, protecting businesses and creating jobs across the country.  Visit the Wilderness Society website http://wilderness.org/.

Congratulations. New York Governor David Paterson issued an executive order phasing out state spending on bottled water in response to grassroots efforts. It is the most comprehensive action taken by a governor to date, and it sets the standard for the 49 other governors we are urging to follow suit. Think Outside the Bottle is a campaign working to promote, protect and ensure public funding for our public water systems. That means challenging corporations who undermine public confidence in tap water. It also means working with public officials, faith groups, restaurants, celebrities, campuses, and individuals to support public systems by opting for tap over bottled water. http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/content/think-outside-bottle/.