For more information contact:
Tricia Bruckbauer, Creation Justice
Ministries (253) 592-5534
Faith Communities Meet with EPA
Administrator McCarthy
Deliver thousands
of comments in support of the Clean
Power Plan
Washington, D.C. – Representatives
from 17 religious organizations
met with Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy
Tuesday afternoon to highlight the support and work of the faith community on the rules to regulate carbon
emissions from power plants. Those
gathered represented the U.S.
Baha’i Office of Public Affairs, Church of the Brethren, Church World Service, the Coalition
On the Environment and Jewish Life, the Columban
Center for Advocacy and
Outreach, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
the Friends Committee on National
Legislation, Interfaith
Power & Light, the Islamic Society of North America,
Maryknoll Office of Global
Concerns, the Presbyterian Church (USA),
the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism, Sadhana: Coalition
of Progressive Hindus,
Sojourners, the United Methodist Church, the National Religious
Partnership for the Environment,
and Creation Justice Ministries.
Over the
last year, the faith community has
been involved in advocacy efforts to influence and support
the Clean Power Plan. Many religious leaders testified at EPA hearings across the country on behalf
of their communions. People of
faith also gathered outside
of the EPA headquarters twice to bless the hearings
and those offering public
comments. Many
of the groups collected grassroots
comments totaling in the
thousands.
There is
a call
in most of the world’s religions to care for the Earth and for our fellow
man.
Many communions represented in the meeting got involved with the EPA’s carbon rules because of a desire
to address climate change and work toward cleaner air.
"The diversity
of faith communities actively advocating
for the Clean Power
Plan is both broad and strong,” stated Rev. Stacy Martin,
Director of National Policy and Advocacy for the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America. “While we sometimes come at the issues
of climate change and
clean air from different religious purviews, we share a common
moral call to care for the planet
in order to serve our most vulnerable neighbors, and
future generations."
“Many in the Christian
community are excited and hopeful
about the Clean Power Plan,” offered Tricia Bruckbauer, Program Director for Creation Justice Ministries. “We view
clean air as a gift from God, and
advocate for the right of
all God’s people to breath freely.
This
plan to regulate carbon emissions
is a step in the right direction.”
Upon finalization of the national rule, religious
communities will look to the
States to aid in the State Implementation
Plan processes and
ensure values of justice
and equity are included
in the different plans. The public
comment period for the Clean Power
Plan is open until December 1st.
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Creation Justice Ministries is an ecumenical organization representing 38 Christian
denominations and their
policies related to the environment.
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| Meeting Begins by Sharing Faith Commitment to Creation Care Photo Credit: Eric Vance, EPA Photographer |
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| OPW Director J. Herbert Nelson tell Administrator McCarthy about PC(USA) concern around carbon pollution and climate change Photo Credit: Eric Vance, EPA Photographer |
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| EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks eloquently about her own concern for carbon pollution Photo Credit: Eric Vance, EPA Photographer |
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| The Assembled Faith Leaders' Delegation with Administrator McCarthy Photo Credit: Eric Vance, EPA Administrator |
