Interfaith Perspectives on Climate Change and Air Pollution
Earth's Climate Embraces Us All cont.
A Plea from Religion and Science for Action on Global Climate Change

Religion and Science may not always agree on the sources of these ideas. But such principles — of stewardship, justice, protection of the weak, inter-generational duty, and prudence — are universal values when responsible scientific study has identified grave risk. Global warming is a universal moral challenge.

We appreciate obstacles to addressing this problem, significantly an unintended consequence of technologies which have made possible great human progress. However, the same ingenuity that devised such benefits can redress their destructive consequences. Extensive study and debate — in science, technology, commerce, and public policy — have led to significant agreement about measures that would indeed slow the pace of climate change. This is a challenge we can meet.

Necessary initiatives include: continued scientific research; the further development of new, clean technologies in power generation and transportation; an energy economy with far less dependence on fossil fuels; targets and timetables for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; training and just transition into new jobs created by new technologies. The wealthier nations of the planet have a solemn moral obligation to help developing countries protect the poor in their midst as they seek to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

What is most required at this moment, however, is moral vision and leadership. Resources of human character and spirit — love of life, far-sightedness, solidarity — are needed to awaken a sufficient sense of urgency and resolve.

In this situation, the United States has both responsibility and opportunity. With 4 percent of the world's population, we have contributed 25 percent of the increased greenhouse gas concentration which causes global warming. Moreover, we uniquely possess technological resources, economic power, and political influence to facilitate solutions.

However, policies that devalue scientific consensus, withdraw from diplomatic initiative, and seek only voluntary initiatives do not seem to us adequate responses to this crisis. We recognize that there are other perspectives than our own. Societies and governments respond slowly to such challenges. Partisanship and acrimony have brought us no closer to solutions.

The Climate Stewardship Act now before the U.S. Senate offers a way forward and an opportunity for renewed resolve. It calls for moderate greenhouse gas reductions and provides market-based incentives to lower energy costs. In addition to its provisions, it can help raise the standard of discourse, encourage local and international initiative, and generate fresh moral resolve. While we take no position on specifics of the legislation, we urge the leadership of the Senate to bring this measure forward and to provide sufficient time and reflective tone for debate. We ask our senators to step back from partisanship and consider what is needed here for the common good of humankind and our planet home.

We will continue efforts to mobilize our two communities, separately and in joint initiatives. We do not have to agree on how and why the world was created in order to work together to preserve it for posterity. In this spirit, we call upon leaders in other sectors — commerce, labor, education, government and non-governmental organizations, research and technology — to join us in finding ways to communicate to their own communities the urgency of this threat to our global commons and the well-being of future generations.