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The Dangers of Global Warming
The atmosphere is a global commons. It envelops the Earth,
nurturing and protecting life. The atmosphere belongs to no
one. It is to be shared by everyone, today and in the future.
Economic and political powers cannot be allowed to impair the
health of the atmosphere nor claim authority over it. "A
Justice Statement Regarding Climate Change" -- The
World Council of Churches
This statement was prepared in anticipation of the 6th Session
of the Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in the Hague,
Netherlands, in November 2000 (see glossary). For some, this
statement may be more theological while to others, it may seem
more economic and political. In reality, the document lifts
up all these concerns. How we resolve this dilemma requires
understanding what is at stake for all the earth.
John A. Mackay, a former president of Princeton Theological
Seminary, explained the need for theology in these words: "Theology
is never irrelevant to the affairs of men … In a period
of confusion and crisis, when tomorrow is being born in the
travailing womb of today, theology is the most important study
in which men (sic) can engage as they make their pilgrimage
from one era to another, and from this world to the world to
come." Thus, the recorded history of humankind from Genesis
to the present time is impacted upon by values that are often
theological.
The creation stories in Genesis have the heavens and the earth
created before God creates humans. There are other theological
connections that can be made with the earth's atmosphere, but
the one paramount Judeo-Christian affirmation is that "the
earth is the LORD's and all that is in it; the world and those
who live in it." (Ps. 24:1, NRSV)
There also are economic and political conjunctions that affect
the way nations regard the one atmosphere which we all must
share. And how nations respond to the issue of climate change,
which is sometimes referred to as global warming, reflects their
view of justice to current and future generations. Climate change
is a natural phenomenon that produces a greenhouse effect that
warms the earth's surface and keeps it from becoming too cool
to be inhabitable for life as we know it. Water vapor, carbon
dioxide (CO2) and other trace gases, such as methane and nitrous
oxide, trap solar heat and slow its loss by re-radiation back
to space. Unprecedented population growth and human production
and consumption have tipped a delicate balance, critically increasing
the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There is significant
scientific evidence that global warming poses a danger to our
planet and its ecosystems.
As recently as last month (May), Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) held
a hearing on global warming before his Senate Commerce Committee.
The former Republican presidential contender heard from a half-dozen
scientists who told him that the surface of the earth is warming,
that concentrations of so-called greenhouse gases have significantly
increased in the atmosphere and that there is abundant evidence
that humans have something to do with it. The senator expressed
concern about the "mounting evidence" pointing to
global climate change and the potential for harm, but said any
action should be based on science "and not on rhetoric
or political expedience."
McCain said he had no specific plan to address the issue and
did not mention the Kyoto Protocol.
President Clinton has signed the agreement that calls for industrial
nations to cut emissions that are believed to be warming the
earth, principally carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil
fuels. Some scientists at the hearing expressed opposing positions.
Robert Watson, chair of the United Nations' sponsored Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change stated: "The overwhelming majority
of scientific experts recognize that scientific uncertainties
exist, but still believe that human-induced climate change is
inevitable." However, John Christy, a climatologist at
the University of Alabama-Huntsville has questioned surface
temperature readings that show the earth has been warming.
The Kyoto Protocol
The Senate has not indicated any push to ratify the Kyoto treaty,
which members of both parties oppose. Under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol
to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the world's
industrialized nations--including the U.S. and Russia--agreed
to reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions by more than
seven percent, below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The Protocol
also contains market-based mechanisms to ensure that nations
can meet their targets in a cost effective manner.
When the President visited Russia, he and Russian President
Putin pledged to work together with other nations to complete
the negotiations necessary to make the Protocol a working reality.
They agreed to expand cooperation on the measurement and reporting
of greenhouse gas emissions. They also called for strong, transparent
international rules that maximize the potential of the Protocol's
market-based tools to achieve cost-effective emissions reductions.
The June joint statement between the United States and Russia
follows a joint statement between the U.S. and China in May
and the U.S. and India in March.
A market-based assumption underscores emissions trading provisions.
It would allow nations or companies that find it relatively
expensive to reduce emissions to purchase additional emissions
units from emitters that have already met their targets with
room to spare. Among the provisos, however, is the requirement
that such trading "shall be supplemental to domestic actions."
This is to make clear that a nation cannot entirely fulfill
its responsibility to reduce domestic emissions by relying primarily
on emissions trading or joint implementation to meet its targets.
From an economic standpoint, there is general agreement that
trading will encourage reductions where they can be achieved
at the lowest cost. Justice advocates, however, question whether
the largest polluters should continue business as usual so long
as they can cover their obligations through a trading system.
The 20 percent of the world's population that lives in wealthy
industrial nations consumes 80 percent of its natural resources
and generates 80 percent of its pollution and waste.
Dr. Larry Parker, a research specialist in Energy and Environmental
Policy at the Congressional Research Service, posits that since
the problem of greenhouse gas emissions is seen in terms of
internalizing a currently external cost, the economic lens implies
that the marketplace is the most efficient means of controlling
undesirable pollutants. There is a belief that the private sector
can solve the problem if given sufficient incentive with minimal
governmental interference. The government's role primarily consists
of providing a market-based signal to private industry about
the external cost (e.g. emission taxes, tradable permits, etc.).
Dr. Parker explains that in reality, the government's role
is more involved. For taxes, this includes determining the level
of the tax, any phasing-in period, and recycling of revenues
received. For permits, this includes the total numbers of permits
allowed, initial allocation formulas, any phasing-in period,
penalties, transaction procedures, and tax liability. While
an economic approach supplements the policy process in implementing
a greenhouse gas reduction program, it is not a substitute for
basic policy decisions and oversight.
Mechanisms to Implement Global Warming Reduction
The Administration's current approach toward climate change
does not focus on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, but
rather, it takes steps to stimulate changes in the technological,
economic and ecological actions of the nation to sustain carbon
dioxide reduction. Incentives focus primarily on more energy
efficient buildings, industrial co-generation and control of
minor greenhouse gases, fuel efficient vehicles, and reduction
of carbon emissions in electricity generation.
In his Earth Day radio address to the nation, Mr. Clinton announced
two new Executive Orders dealing with climate change. The first
requires federal agencies to reduce the amount of petroleum
to vehicle fleets use by 20 percent by 2005. The second will
allow all federal workers to set aside up to $65 tax-free every
month to pay for public transportation. Moreover, in the Washington
area, every federal agency will help provide some or all of
its employees' public transportation costs. He also called on
Congress to enact his FY 2001 climate change budget, including
$2.4 billion for clean energy technologies and energy efficiency
and his five-year $4 billion tax incentive package to spur clean
energy technologies and increase investment in energy efficient
technology and renewable energy.
Legislation
Every year since 1995, when the Republicans took control of
Congress, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) has led a group
that inserted language into the annual transportation appropriations
bill to block a study of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ)
standards.
On May 19, House advocates of increased fuel efficiency abandoned
their plan to offer an amendment to the FY 2001 transportation
appropriations bill (HR 4475) that would have allowed the Transportation
Department to take the first step toward updating the 15-year-old
regulations. (For more details on CAFÉ standards, see
Stewardship of Public Life, Ecology and Environment, 1st Quarter
2000.) Blame for not submitting the amendment was attributed
to pressure by Republican leadership and Democratic fears related
to possible impact on re-election bids.
With CAFÉ derailed in the House, the focus now shifts
to the Senate when it takes up its version of the transportation
appropriations bill. Fuel efficiency standards are not addressed
in the Senate Republican energy plan (S 2557), which includes
measures aimed at boosting oil production, finding ways to use
more coal, and reviving the nuclear industry. It also includes
some tax credits for renewable energy sources and incentives
for weatherization. The Senate Republicans' goal is to reduce
the nation's use of foreign oil to 50 percent from 56 percent.
It does not address use by cars and trucks, although motor fuel
accounts for 65 percent of oil consumption in the U.S.
Next Steps Toward Creating Policy on Climate Change
The U.S. is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions,
accounting for 22 percent of total global output. Thus, any
solution to the problem of global greenhouse gas emissions must
include acknowledgement of human responsibility that leads to
a strong domestic program of emission reductions by this nation.
Historically, the predominant greenhouse gas from human activity
has been CO2 and is expected to remain the largest single contributor
from human activity for the next 60 years. The principle source
of such CO2 is energy use.
Three examples of reducing energy use toward reaching the Kyoto
target are: light duty vehicles, residential space heating,
and industrial direct heating. Since energy use is based on
production and consumption, consumers can use their purchasing
power to redirect energy usage. All three examples point to
the need to deal in a holistic way with scientific and technological,
and economic and political issues that affect the viability
of our planet. Future political leadership may be crucial to
this effort. Vice President Gore long has been an advocate for
reducing global warming. Gov. George W. Bush recognizes that
global warming should be taken seriously but says that any decisions
made to address the issue should be based on the best science.
He opposes the Kyoto Protocol.
It will be necessary to act locally while pushing our politicians
to respond globally. But most importantly, as people of faith
we are called to be God's stewards in public life, therefore,
reducing global warming becomes a theological concern.
Suggested actions:
- Do an energy assessment of your home and urge your congregation
to assess its building. Guidelines can be found in the National
Council of Churches' (Eco-Justice Working Group) publication,
"Energy Stewardship Guide for Congregations." You
can receive a free copy by calling 1-800-288-1346.
- Contact your Representative and Senators, preferably after
making a commitment to assess your energy use, and let them
know your concerns related to the effects of global warming,
domestically and globally. Urge them to show leadership in
Congress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Identify yourself
as a Presbyterian or as a person of faith who is concerned
about the stewardship of God's creation. Please let the PC(USA)
Washington Office know of any correspondence to or from your
lawmakers.
Honorable
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Honorable
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
General Assembly guidance:
The 1998 resolution on "Global Climate Change" reaffirms
previous policy in "Restoring Creation for Ecology and
Justice" (1990). The General Assembly called on the U.S.
to reach firm international agreements for steady and substantial
reduction of gases causing climate change. The 1998 resolution
urged the U.S. government to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and encourages
all nations to develop policies on renewable energy, energy
and fuel efficiency, and reforestation that will reduce their
emissions.
For more information on global warming, go to the following
web sites:
- Web of Creation
Links to religious networks concerned about the environment,
including the National Council of Churches' Eco-Justice Working
Group. Offers faith-based resources on ecology and religion.
- Global
Warming International Center Presents information on global
science policy for governments, non-governmental organizations
and industries in 120 countries.
- Spotlight
on: Climate Change -- U.S. Department of State Contains
major U.S. government document related to climate change and
global warming.
- Weathervane,
sponsored by Resources for the Future Provides a digital forum
on global climate policy.
Glossary
Conference of Parties: The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC--see below) established
a negotiating body, the Conference of Parties (COP) to consider
more stringent measures for climate change protection. The 6th
Conference (COP6) will be held in the Hague, Netherlands, on
Nov. 13-24, 2000.
Fossil Fuels: Oil, coal, natural gas
Greenhouse Gases: The six gases covered by the Kyoto
Protocol are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide
(N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and
sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). The most prominent and most pervasive
in human economic activity is carbon dioxide, that is produced
when wood or fossil fuels are burned.
Kyoto Protocol: The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, completed December 11,
1997, committed the industrialized nations to specified, legally
binding reductions in six greenhouse gases. The treaty was opened
for signature on March 16, 1998 through March 16, 1999. The
President signed the Protocol on November 12, 1998, but the
treaty has not been ratified by the Senate.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: The
1992 U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change was the first
international agreement aimed at controlling greenhouse gases.
It sought voluntary controls on emissions by industrialized
nations.
U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
Established in November 1988, this panel underpinned the first
effort in a series of periodic international scientific and
policy assessments of global climate change.
Climate Change Technology Initiative: The Clinton Administration's
research and development package (to develop renewable energy
resources and more energy efficient technologies), targeted
tax credits (to encourage purchase and deployment of more efficient
technologies), and voluntary information programs (to help businesses
and schools be better informed when making purchasing and operating
decisions that involve energy use and emissions).
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