Pelavin: "The world is looking to the United States to lead the way in confronting the environmental and economic crisis of climate change, and the draft bill released today is a significant step toward tackling this global problem."
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WASHINGTON, D.C., March 31, 2009 - In response to the release of a discussion draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center, issued the following statement:
The first draft of legislation that will comprehensively address climate and energy issues, released today by Representatives Henry Waxman and Edward Markey, marks an important step in the fight against global climate change. By investing in renewable energy and holding polluters accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions, we can avoid the worst impacts of climate change and, at the same time, create thousands of jobs in the industries that will power our nation and our world toward a greener future.
We specifically applaud provisions to help both low-income people in the U.S. and vulnerable developing nations around the world adapt to the unavoidable effects of climate change and the impacts of new energy policies. We must continue to ensure that poor and vulnerable communities are not left behind in the transition to the low-carbon economy.
As Jews, we are called to be responsible stewards of the earth and to care for those most in need. Policies that drastically reduce carbon emissions, spur the growth of the green economy, and protect the nations that contribute the least, but stand to suffer the most, from the effects of climate change, honor both of these commandments.
The world is looking to the United States to lead the way in confronting the environmental and economic crisis of climate change, and the draft bill released today is a significant step toward tackling this global problem. We look forward to working with leaders in the House, as well as the Senate and the Obama Administration, as we move towards bipartisan legislation to protect our planet and all of its inhabitants.
