EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Seven, Number One November/December 1997 Call to Action: Join the Climate Countdown Campaign "We must take the lead in addressing the challenge of global warming that could make our planet and its climate less hospitable to human life. Today, I reaffirm my personal, and announce our nation's, commitment to reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases to the 1990 levels by the year 2000." (President Clinton, April 21, 1993) "The whole issue of climate change must be looked at in terms of our deepest obligations to future generations . . . I am convinced that, when the nations of the world meet in Kyoto, Japan, in December on this issue, the United States has got to be committed to realistic and binding limits on our emissions of greenhouse gases." (President Clinton, July 24, 1997) "The way we respond to global warming is the bridge to the 21st century." (Senator Paul Wellstone, October 17,1997) We have a choice. Fossil fuel dependent industries have spent millions of dollars and exerted enormous pressure to prevent the Administration from taking the lead. They wish to scuttle any effective binding treaty that would force Americans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to invest in energy efficiency and alternative sources. On the other hand, a national network of grassroots organizations, organized by the Environmental Information Center is exerting pressure for a binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has launched The Climate Countdown campaign in response to alarming calls to action issued by the world's most renowned scientists, doctors, economists, and other experts. Threatened impacts of climate change include accelerated water evaporation and drought, species extinction, drowning of islands and coastlands, impaired food supplies and increased disease. The campaign's objective is: "To demonstrate to the public, press and policy makers that climate change poses a serious threat to our environment and quality of life, and that policies to mitigate climate change will improve economic competitiveness and the standard of living in the US. We must make a difference by December 1st." An international agreement, signed in Berlin in 1995, set the 1997 December conference of the parties in Kyoto as the deadline for over 150 countries to negotiate new binding targets on greenhouse gas reductions. Almost every major industrialized nation has announced the amount of greenhouse gas reductions it wants in the climate treaty ÷ except the USA. Since 1995 the United States,with its increasing population and more big cars, has increased its greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto negotiations now unfolding represent a unique opportunity for those who govern in the 20th century to determine the quality of life in the 21st century. The next few weeks are critical. Let your opinions be known to President Clinton and his negotiating team, and to CEOs of our utilities and fossil fuel industries. For a field organizer kit which contains everything a local activist needs to know about educating others on climate change and running a climate change campaign in your community or congregation, contact Andrea Kavanagh, Public Health and Religious Community Organizer, Environmental Information Center, 1200 18th St. NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036; Toll Free 888/887-8234; fax 202/887-8877; internet: www.eic.org. Home     Table of Contents