Minute on Global Warming

Public ContentAnyone can view this post
Minutes Details: 

Environmental Working Group: Hollister Knowlton asked the Meeting to consider a minute proposed by the Environmental Working Group on global warming. The Meeting approved the minute as follows.

Protecting the world as God’s creation is of fundamental religious concern to the Society of Friends. The link between human activity, the dramatic rise in atmospheric CO2, and the indications that the average global temperature has begun to rise is proving to be of overriding importance from the standpoints of ecology, social and economic justice, and international diplomacy. Climate change will affect everyone and everything: food, water, air quality, biodiversity, forests, public health, social order, and world peace.

Because the US uses by far the largest amount of energy per capita, our nation’s commitment to agreements and policies to curtail the emissions of greenhouse gases will be crucial. We have long set the example for the world with our high levels of consumption; it is critical that we now set an example by being willing to take responsibility for our behavior. Because of the ethical and moral nature of our dilemma, involvement by religious communities, in education and advocacy, will be needed if policies to address global warming are to succeed in politics or in practice in the US.

We unite in urging individual Friends, monthly meetings, and other Friends institutions to seek Divine Guidance in reducing our use of energy and helping our society convert to renewable energy technologies. These are essential steps to protect life on Earth as God created it.

Passed April 16, 2000.

Share