wfn.org | NCCCUSA JULY 16 NEWS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Shanta M. Bryant, United Methodist Church,
202-488-5630;
Rich Killmer, NCC, 212- 870-2385/Betty Thompson,
NCC, 212-870-2048

Press Conference:  July 16, 9 a.m., The United
Methodist Building,
100 Maryland Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C.
Continental breakfast will be served.

NCC7/10/96                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC LAUNCHES PETITION CAMPAIGN ON CLIMATE CHANGE

 New York, July 10 ---- The National Council of
Churches (NCC) is launching a petition campaign
urging the United States government to respond to
the dangers of climate change. The NCC will hold a
press conference in Washington, D.C. on July 16 at 9
a.m. announcing the effort. NCC General Secretary
Joan Brown Campbell and church denominational
leaders will speak at the conference.

According to Campbell, "These are profound
issues of global justice.  The potential impacts of
climate change on poor nations and poor people in
the U.S. are enormous."  She points out that
although industrialized countries, including the
U.S., are the primary source of greenhouse gas
emissions which cause global warming, these
governments have been slow to reduce the production
of these gases.  "After meeting with the
Administration and members of Congress on this
issue, we have concluded that our government is just
not hearing enough from people who care about the
future of God's good creation," Campbell says.  "We
are initiating this climate change petition as a
grass roots effort to help demonstrate the concern
of our members for more speedy government actions."

 The petition asks the United States government
to:

   * fulfill its pledge at Earth Summit 1992 in
Rio de Janeiro to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to
1990 levels by the year 2000;

   * establish firm policy measures and adopt a
binding international agreement that will achieve
greater reductions in emissions after the year 2000;
and

   * initiate public debate on the risks of
climate change and increase public participation in
exploring solutions.

 The petition's signatories will also make a
commitment to change their lifestyle by reducing
energy consumption and the resulting greenhouse gas
emissions.

Scientists have agreed that increased human
activity in the form of electricity generation,
industry, heating and motor vehicles, is
accelerating the warming of the earth's atmosphere
and is likely to have serious environmental, social
and economic consequences. Climate changes could
greatly impact water distribution and temperature,
raise sea levels, and change the distribution of
disease organisms, thereby increasing heat-related
mortality and illness.

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