* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution:D031
Title:Support for climate change action
Topic:Environment
Committee:09 - National and International Concerns
House of Initial Action:Deputies
Proposer:Mr. Simon B. "Pete" Ross

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention urge President Obama and Congressional leaders to commit the United States to a course of action, in collaboration with the other nations of the world, to lower the output of atmospheric carbon (measured as CO2) by 25% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention direct the Washington Office of Government Relations of the Episcopal Church to actively promote such action by the United States government.


EXPLANATION

World leaders will meet this December in Copenhagen, Denmark, to negotiate a global climate treaty, a successor to the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012. Assessments of the pace of global warming and its likely results grow more dire with each new scientific report. Continued global warming will bear down first and hardest on the poorest nations and peoples of the world, but will ultimately affect all.

Atmospheric carbon (CO2) resulting from human activities is the main cause of global warming. Led by Dr. James Hansen, the NASA scientist who first documented global warming, the scientific community is suggesting that 350 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere is the upper limit at which Earth can sustain life and civilization as we know it into future generations. CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere is currently at 387 ppm and rising. The Copenhagen Conference will be a major opportunity - perhaps the last - for the world's leaders to commit to coordinated just and decisive actions to reverse this trend before the climatic and atmospheric conditions pass the point of no return.

With the Copenhagen Conference rapidly approaching, people around the world are preparing to join together in climate actions on October 24, 2009, highlighting the 350 ppm CO2 limit, and encouraging world leaders to draft a global climate treaty that quickly moves us toward this goal. These actions, as well as the 350 ppm CO2 goal, have been endorsed by Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, David Suzuki, Dr. James Hansen, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, etc.. Planned actions are being noted at www.350.org, which also includes a specific call to people of faith: www.350.org/faith. The strong commitment of the Episcopal Church to the Millennium Development Goals calls for us to urge/petition/demand that the governments of the world commit to taking decisive action to rapidly achieve the 350 ppm CO2 goal.


* Note: The final language, as well as the final status of each resolution, is being reviewed by the General Convention office. The Journal of the 76th General Convention and the Constitution and Canons will be published once the review process has been completed.