Scientists and religious leaders sign a declaration criticizing global climate change policies
The world’s poor are suffering because of misguided governmental climate change policies, say dozens of scientists, theologians, pastors, and ministry leaders. Around 150 Catholic, evangelical, and Jewish figures signed a two-page declaration released today that calls on political leaders to “abandon fruitless and harmful policies to control global temperature.”
Instead, governments should adopt policies that reflect “responsible environmental stewardship” and “make energy and all its benefits more affordable” for the world’s poor, says the document titled “Protect the Poor: Ten Reasons to Oppose Harmful Climate Change Policies” and published by the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, an evangelical environmental organization.
The declaration comes a week ahead of a United Nations summit in New York City, where UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hopes to rally support for an international global warming treaty planned for 2015. (The heads of state of China and India, two of the largest carbon emitters, will be notably absent.) U.S. President Barack Obama is reportedly planning to propose a nonbinding political agreement to “name and shame” nations into reducing their carbons emissions. Such an agreement would not have the teeth of a treaty, which would need to be approved by the U.S. Senate in order to become law. At present, there is not enough support in the Senate to pass an international climate deal.