wfn.org | New Interfaith Electronic Climate Change Network is Launched

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
E-Mail: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org
NCC1/15/02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW INTERFAITH ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CHANGE NETWORK IS LAUNCHED

	January 15, 2002, NEW YORK CITY - U.S. faith community work to protect the
environment has a new component - a Web-based electronic advocacy network.

The new Interfaith Climate Change Network - www.protectingcreation.org -
offers religious people of all faith communities an extensive stock of
information and practical, specific actions for stewardship of creation, a
concept included in many theologies.

Along with energy conservation measures for households, congregations and
communities, the Interfaith Climate Change Network facilitates advocacy for
such energy-smart public policies as support for mass transit, stricter
vehicle emissions standards and development of clean and renewable energy.

It has sample letters to send to U.S. senators and representatives and other
policy makers on line, and offers members periodic e-mail alerts to new
developments and opportunities for public policy advocacy.

The Interfaith Climate Change Network is co-sponsored by the National
Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group (NCC) and the Coalition on
the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL), both New York City-based, and is
made possible by funding from the Turner Foundation.  The NCC and COEJL
enlisted the Carol/Trevelyan Strategy Group in Washington, D.C., to create
and manage the new Web site.

In 1995, the 2,500 scientists of the International Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) officially confirmed that human activity is contributing to rapid
climate change.  In 2001, the IPCC reported that there is now convincing
evidence linking human activity to higher land and ocean temperatures,
rising sea levels, and thinning of snow and ice cover. The National Academy
of Sciences also has concluded that "global warming is undoubtedly real" and
requires policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To stabilize atmospheric CO2, the IPCC determined that global emissions must
be reduced below 1990 levels by at least 60 percent. Since 1990, they have
increased about 15 percent.

People of faith bring a particular perspective to work to protect the
environment, said the Rev. Richard L. Killmer, the NCCs director of
environmental justice.

Psalm 24 tells us, the Earth is the Lords and all that is in it, he
said.  We do not own it, but are to care for it as a sacred trust.
Furthermore, as Gods people, we are our brothers and sisters keepers and
are to attend to the well-being of our neighbors and of future generations.

All of creation is threatened by climate change, Killmer continued.
Global warming hurts Gods creation and Gods people.  Poor people in
developing nations are most severely impacted by changing weather and rising
seas and have the least capacity to adapt.  Unless global warming is
reversed, future generations will inherit an unstable climate, potentially
catastrophic rises in sea level, migration of tropical diseases and
disrupted agricultural production.

Members of the Interfaith Climate Change Network are encouraged to take
responsibility for dealing with global warming in their own choices and
actions before expecting or demanding this of others.

Because we of the industrialized nations created the increase of greenhouse
gases, we have a special responsibility to do something about it, Killmer
said.  We can reduce our use of energy and of things we dont really need
that require energy to make and use.  We can help people in need improve
their quality of life without using more energy from damaging sources.  And
we can inform ourselves about public policy relating to global warming at
all levels - local, regional, national and international.

About the Interfaith Climate Change Networks co-sponsors:

The Eco-Justice Working Group of the National Council of Churches is made up
of representatives from 23 national communions (denominations) that work
together on environmental issues.

The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life is a broad coalition of 29
national Jewish organizations representing the broad spectrum of Jewish
life.  COEJL has 13 regional affiliates across North America working in
Jewish communities to organize environmental education, action and advocacy.

Together, NCC and COEJL have organized 21 statewide interfaith climate
change campaigns, which provide an opportunity for individuals and
congregations to get involved in educating and organizing their communities.

COEJL and the NCC are partners in the interfaith National Religious
Partnership for the Environment, which also includes the U.S. Catholic
Conference and the Evangelical Environmental Network.

-end-