Bishops and climate change

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking Congress to take "effective measures to address climate change" because such steps are "urgent and necessary."

The USCCB asks the U.S. Congress and the federal government to consider the following principles as they shape policies and measures to address climate change:

- Prudence requires us to act to protect the common good by addressing climate change at home and abroad.

- The consequences of climate change will be borne by the world’s most vulnerable people and inaction will worsen their suffering.

- Policies addressing global climate change should enhance rather than diminish the economic situation of people in poverty.

- Policies should create new resources to assist poor and adversely affected communities to adapt and respond to the effects of global climate change in the U.S. and in vulnerable developing countries.

- Policies to address climate change should include measures to protect poor and vulnerable communities from the health impacts of climate change, including increased exposure to climate-sensitive diseases, heat waves and diminished air quality.

- Participation by local affected communities in shaping policy responses to address climate change and programs for adapting to climate change is essential.

- Technology should be made available to people in the most vulnerable developing countries to help them adapt to the effects of climate change (adaptation) and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation).

You can read more here.