USCCB Domestic Justice Chairman Calls for Renewed Carbon Emissions Solutions
WASHINGTON—After Environmental Protection Agencyadministrator Scott Pruitt announced that the EPA will formally seek to revokethe Clean Power Plan, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman ofthe USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, expresseddisappointment about the
WASHINGTON—After Environmental Protection Agencyadministrator Scott Pruitt announced that the EPA will formally seek to revokethe Clean Power Plan, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman ofthe USCCB's Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, expresseddisappointment about the decision and called on leaders to "hear the cry of theearth and the cry of the poor."
The full statement follows:
"The USCCB, in unity with Pope Francis, strongly supportsenvironmental stewardship, and has for several years called on our nation tohelp curb carbon emissions through a national carbon standard. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Pruitt announced that the EPAwill now take steps to revoke the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the national programdesigned to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 32% in relation to2015 levels by the year 2030.
The CPP may not have been the only possible mechanism foraddressing carbon emissions, but, unfortunately, the Administration does notpropose an adequate alternative as it seeks to dismantle the CPP. Havingalready withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement, this change in course bythe EPA solidifies the already troubling approach of our nation in addressingclimate change, and places at risk many people, including the poor who canleast bear the consequences of inaction.
Many states have already made great progress towardcarbon mitigation goals under the CPP, making this decision even moredifficult. Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato si', calls us to action incaring for our common home. A national carbon standard is a critical stepfor the U.S. at this time. Facing this shift from the Trump Administration, ourleaders should heed the Holy Father's moral call and seek new legislative solutionsthat will help the nation and world 'hear the cry of the earth and the cry ofthe poor' once more."
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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Bishop Frank J. Dewane,Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Clean Power Plan (CPP),Trump Administration, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Scott Pruitt,carbon emissions, Pope Francis, environmental stewardship, Laudato si', Parisclimate agreement, carbon mitigation goals, common home
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