FAN’s Message to Congress

As legislation is developed, it will be measured against two broad principles drawn from our Franciscan tradition.  For Franciscans, climate change legislation must safeguard creation by lowering greenhouse gas emission and in the process of lowering these emissions, support must be provided to persons who are poor to adjust to higher costs.

More specifically:

1. As Franciscans the quality of our relation to creation reflects our relation to the Creator.  Therefore we must do all we can to cut greenhouse gas emissions 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and work for long-term reductions that are at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.  Scientists suggest that this level of cut is necessary to keep average global temperature rise below a critical 2° Celsius threshold.
   
2. Persons who are poor are held in a special place within creation tracing back to Francis’ care for lepers.   The necessary emission cuts to stave off the most severe impacts of climate change will raise short term prices for energy, transportation and other goods.  Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequate support to persons who are poor so that they are not affected too negatively.  Persons who are poor, both in the U.S. and internationally, should be eligible for this support.

These particular talking points and message will be adjusted based on developments related to the legislation before Congress.