RESOLUTION OF THE WEST VIRGINIA INTERFAITH GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE CAMPAIGN

December 6, 2002

Whereas:

• · God calls human beings to care for the earth and other creatures;
• · God calls human beings to love one another and care for all mankind;
• · our love for mankind includes concern for reasonable economic well-being;
• · scientific and political leaders in the United States and the world acknowledge global climate change due to human activities as a threat to the health of the earth and its inhabitants; (1, 2, 3)
• · coal-fired power plants in particular are known to produce approximately 31% of the U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, the substance most-associated with climate change.(4)

  It is hereby resolved that the West Virginia Global Climate Change Campaign opposes the development, construction, and operation of new electric power plants when:

  • · the process leading to approval or agreement by public authorities at any stage for such development, construction, or operation, does not allow for suitable public involvement and true consideration of public views;
  • · people in immediate and surrounding communities are not publicly invited and included in whatever public dialogue may be undertaken, regardless of the political jurisdictions;
  • · people in immediate and surrounding communities are not fully informed of the issues relevant to global climate change by the public and private authorities involved in such development, construction, or operation, regardless of the political jurisdictions;
  • · full attention is not given to improved control or elimination of carbon dioxide and other emissions, when such controls or elimination are appropriate and available;
  • · the effects of said power plants during construction and emissions during operation are unnecessarily harmful to any of God's creation, especially with respect to their effect on climate change;
  • · alternative sources of income and jobs for people in a given area are not explored and reported upon.

    Within the realm of God's creation we include human beings, animals, plants, the earth, and the atmospheric climate of the earth.

    Unnecessary harm is defined as occurring when we knowingly do harm even though less harmful actions are available, even if the less harmful actions come at a greater financial cost.

    References

    • 1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change 1995: The Science of Climate change, Summary for Policymakers, 1996.
    • 2. President Bush Discusses Global Climate Change, Statement to the Press June11, 2001.
    • 3. Fact Sheet: President Bush Announces Clear Skies & Global Climate Change Initiatives, February 14, 2002.
    • 4. U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 97, April 1999.