The General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for decades have passed policies that share concern for God’s creation, our obligation to be good stewards of the natural world, and our role in reducing energy dependence, promoting renewable and sustainable energy use, and otherwise caring for the earth. In the last few months, President Trump has rolled back national environmental protections related to water, methane regulation, and national monuments while also proposing drastic cuts to national governmental agencies doing key climate research and regulation such as the EPA and NOAA. Yesterday, he announced an Executive Order that changes key points of the Clean Power Plan.
Presbyterians march for just climate policies at state and national levels
Creation Justice Ministries Gathers Christian Responses to the Executive Order:
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order that calls for a rewrite of the Clean Power Plan, the policy intended to be a blueprint for reducing carbon pollution from existing power plants by nearly 30 percent from 2005 levels. The Clean Power Plan was the mechanism for the United States to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets under the Paris climate agreement. The Executive Order also seeks to lift a moratorium on federal coal leasing and remove the requirement that federal officials consider the impact of climate change when making decisions. Here are some Christian communities’ responses to the Administration’s action. (We will continue updating this page as more statements become available.)
It has never been more important to make our voices heard at the People’s Climate March on April 29 in Washington, DC. Join us: www.creationjustice.org/climatemarch
It has never been more important to make our voices heard at the People’s Climate March on April 29 in Washington, DC. Join us: www.creationjustice.org/climatemarch
Stay tuned for Presbyterians gathering to march together in D.C. on April 29th.
The PC(USA) Office of Public Witness Raises Grave Concern Over Rollbacks of Climate Protections
March 30, 2017
The President’s Executive Order on climate change is a tragic turn for the future of this nation and for the entire planet. By this one stroke of his pen, the president has rescinded the Coal Mining Moratorium on US federal lands and substantially weakened a number of environmental protections. His signature threatens the health of children already suffering with respiratory illness, endangers seniors living in environments already polluted by industrial waste and places at risk the well-being of every living person the world around. As people of faith who believe in a God of creation who commands good and proper stewardship of this gift, we must speak with one voice that this world is worth protecting. We affirm that climate change is real and impacted by the actions of human beings. We can protect the environment and affirm the dignity of work as we come together to produce solutions which enhance all aspects of created life . But environmental justice must be a priority or we will not have a future to work towards. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,… and God saw that it was good.” (Gen 1:1; 10b)
-Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director, PC(USA) Office of Public Witness
Sorry, but as a faithful Presbyterian, I affirm President Trump’s action; I cannot affirm, based on the science I have researched, that our human contribution is significant enough to shut down the coal industry and stifle our energy independence. Total human CO2 is less than 4%, and coal a fraction of that. I’ve read credible research taht argues our oceans drive CO2 levels across the globe, and that the sun has grown 0.1% hotter in the last several decades causing more CO2 to be released into the atmosphere. Trump has no control over that! China has almost doubled US output on the human side of it, so I would suggest we spend our energy on pressing China on the issue. As for coal, there are already regulations and new science now available to help keep coal clean. So I say, let’s stop picking on coal and get serious about the global picture. How much effort is the PCUSA making to challenge China and India on CO2 emissions? In the meantime, let’s help feed families in Appalachia and impact their future as hard working Americans willing to take risks and make sacrifices to help their communities and nation. I am the son of a coal miner, and I speak for a portion of Presbyterians who are not being heard over the inferences of children dying and the world being poisoned by coal miners in West Virginia. Really?