On March 27, 2019, Rep. Kathy Castor [D-FL-14] introduced House Bill HR9, Climate Action Now Act. This bill requires the President to develop and annually update a plan for the United States to meet its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement on climate change. The plan must describe steps to (1) cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, and (2) confirm that other parties to the agreement with major economies are fulfilling their announced contributions.

In addition, the bill prohibits federal funds from being used to withdraw from the agreement.

Following is the link to the letter to be forwarded to your Representative.

Letter of Support

Dear Representative:

As religious organizations representing a variety of faith traditions, we ask that you support H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, legislation that is intended to keep the United States in the Paris Agreement, an international agreement aimed at curbing climate change, and require the Administration to assemble a plan to meet our commitments under the agreement.

Through our faith, we are united behind common moral values that call us to protect and assist vulnerable populations, to defend our children’s health, to care for God’s creation, and to fulfill our obligations to future generations. It is through these values that we view climate change as a threat to God’s people and creation. We believe that it is essential that the leadership and action of the United States address climate change and that the Paris Climate Agreement is key in coordinating international action against this threat.

We share a deep conviction that we have one earth and must steward it responsibly. Global climate change presents an unprecedented threat to the integrity of life on Earth and a challenge to values that bind us together. We know that the consequences of climate change are not felt equally across communities within our own country and those around the world. Vulnerable populations including women, children, marginalized and impoverished communities disproportionately suffer from the impacts of hurricanes, floods, droughts, famines, and water scarcity. These impacts fall most heavily on those who have done the least to create the problem and who possess the fewest resources to adapt. Our notion of the common good calls us to be in solidarity with those impacted by climate change while avoiding the temptation to pass this problem along to future generations as a result of our own neglect or narrow interests.

Keeping the United States in the Paris Agreement is urgently needed if we are to meet our moral obligations to protect God’s earth and God’s people. For these reasons, we urge you to support H.R. 9 as an important component of necessary climate action.