wfn.org | Humanitarian Agency Praises Senate Climate Bill Action, Calls for Higher Bar

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, Church World Service, (212) 870-2676,
lcrosson@chuCWrchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Humanitarian Agency Praises Senate Climate Bill Action, But Calls for Higher Bar

Church World Service urges 'more ambitious emissions targets,'
Says 'too little adaptation money too late' for vulnerable nations

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thurs. May 13, 2010 -- In reaction to yesterdayâ?? s
release of â??The American Power Actâ?? by Senators John Kerry  (D-MA)
and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director
and CEO of Church World Service, an international humanitarian
organization, commended the senators for their hard work and a bill that
"provides an initial step." But the agency called for "higher
expectations" related to greenhouse gas emissions targets in earlier
years and earlier commitment to adaptation funding for vulnerable
nations.

In a statement issued today, McCullough said, â??I commend Senators
Kerry and Lieberman for their hard work and leadership in bringing us
legislation that addresses climate change and provides an initial step
for the United States toward a more ecologically and economically
sustainable future.  Such a bill is vitally needed; indeed, it is
overdue.

â??Climate change is the moral challenge of our generation. It is
imperative that our Senators create a lasting legislative legacy of
which we can all be proud," said McCullough. "We need a bill that
expresses the best of who we are as a nation and what we can contribute
to the welfare of the global family and this fragile planet we all call
home.  Accordingly, we must set higher expectations of ourselves than
what is reflected in the current bill."

McCullough said CWS has two major concerns with the bill's provisions,
â??from the standpoint of promoting the welfare of those who are  living
in poverty, who are living in particularly vulnerable communities in the
U.S. and in developing countries."

On the Kerry-Lieberman bill's provisions for lowering greenhouse gas
emissions, McCullough said, â??We will look forward to working with
members of Congress to set more ambitious goals for greenhouse gas
emissions targets, particularly for earlier years.  Only by setting the
bar higher will we be able to stay competitive in the global marketplace
and meet our international obligations."

McCullough said "The current 2020 targets are so low that they are
'inadequate to maintain the integrity of global climate and to hold the
risk of ruinous climate change to an acceptable low level,' according to
the Nobel-prize winning Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.

"The longer we wait to make necessary cuts, the more costly it is in
terms of human lives and adaptation expenses. Our half-hearted action
will contribute to increased hunger for many people living in developing
countries and will threaten livelihoods and the very existence of
low-lying communities and countries.

'Nowhere near our fair share for adaptation funding'
McCullough, whose agency supports sustainable food security,
agriculture and water resource programs in some of the world's poorest
countries now affected by climate change, said the America Power Act
"comes nowhere near meeting our fair share of adaptation financing for
low-income, vulnerable developing nations. There is too little money,
too late.

"This legislation only offers 15 years worth of assistance beginning in
2019. Those who least contributed to climate change are bearing the
brunt of its negative consequences," he said. "By delaying assisting
with their adaptation needs, we aggravate their suffering and create the
need for even greater expenses later. This is a penny-wise and pound
foolish approach. This is a matter of justice."

McCullough stressed the specific need for immediate adaptation funding
for clean water resources. â??Climate change is threatening millions  of
peopleâ's survival through jeopardizing their access to water for
consumption, hygiene and food security. We cannot wait until 2019 to
address this.

"I urge the Senate to seek higher ground," he said.

In a related challenge, the humanitarian agency head noted, â??It is
also important to recognize the role we play as consumers, especially in
a privileged country like the U.S."  He said CWS is advocating for
"sustainable consumption in industrialized countries."

For the complete Church World Service statement, see:
www.churchworldservice.org/climatestatement

Media Contacts: Lesley Crosson, Church World Service, (212) 870-
2676, lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Humanitarian Agency Praises Senate Climate Bill Action, But Calls for
Higher Bar

Church World Service urges 'more ambitious emissions targets,'
Says 'too little adaptation money too late' for vulnerable nations

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thurs. May 13, 2010 -- In reaction to yesterdayâ?? s
release of â??The American Power Actâ?? by Senators John Kerry  (D-MA)
and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director
and CEO of Church World Service, an international humanitarian
organization, commended the senators for their hard work and a bill that
"provides an initial step." But the agency called for "higher
expectations" related to greenhouse gas emissions targets in earlier
years and earlier commitment to adaptation funding for vulnerable
nations.

In a statement issued today, McCullough said" I commend Senators
Kerry and Lieberman for their hard work and leadership in bringing us
legislation that addresses climate change and provides an initial step
for the United States toward a more ecologically and economically
sustainable future.  Such a bill is vitally needed; indeed, it is
overdue.

â??Climate change is the moral challenge of our generation. It is
imperative that our Senators create a lasting legislative legacy of
which we can all be proud," said McCullough. "We need a bill that
expresses the best of who we are as a nation and what we can contribute
to the welfare of the global family and this fragile planet we all call
home.  Accordingly, we must set higher expectations of ourselves than
what is reflected in the current bill."

McCullough said CWS has two major concerns with the bill's provisions,
â??from the standpoint of promoting the welfare of those who are  living
in poverty, who are living in particularly vulnerable communities in the
U.S. and in developing countries."

On the Kerry-Lieberman bill's provisions for lowering greenhouse gas
emissions, McCullough said, â??We will look forward to working with
members of Congress to set more ambitious goals for greenhouse gas
emissions targets, particularly for earlier years.  Only by setting the
bar higher will we be able to stay competitive in the global marketplace
and meet our international obligations."

McCullough said "The current 2020 targets are so low that they are
'inadequate to maintain the integrity of global climate and to hold the
risk of ruinous climate change to an acceptable low level,' according to
the Nobel-prize winning Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.

"The longer we wait to make necessary cuts, the more costly it is in
terms of human lives and adaptation expenses. Our half-hearted action
will contribute to increased hunger for many people living in developing
countries and will threaten livelihoods and the very existence of
low-lying communities and countries.

'Nowhere near our fair share for adaptation funding'
McCullough, whose agency supports sustainable food security,
agriculture and water resource programs in some of the world's poorest
countries now affected by climate change, said the America Power Act
"comes nowhere near meeting our fair share of adaptation financing for
low-income, vulnerable developing nations. There is too little money,
too late.

"This legislation only offers 15 years worth of assistance beginning in
2019. Those who least contributed to climate change are bearing the
brunt of its negative consequences," he said. "By delaying assisting
with their adaptation needs, we aggravate their suffering and create the
need for even greater expenses later. This is a penny-wise and pound
foolish approach. This is a matter of justice."

McCullough stressed the specific need for immediate adaptation funding
for clean water resources. â??Climate change is threatening millions  of
peopleâ??s survival through jeopardizing their access to water for
consumption, hygiene and food security. We cannot wait until 2019 to
address this.

I urge the Senate to seek higher ground, he said.

In a related challenge, the humanitarian agency head noted, â??It is
also important to recognize the role we play as consumers, especially in
a privileged country like the U.S."  He said CWS is advocating for
"sustainable consumption in industrialized countries."