Contact: Max Rosenblum or Rachel Landman
202.387.2800 | news@rac.org
Washington, D.C., March 8, 2016 – On the occasion of the first deposit of U.S. funds to the Green Climate Fund, Barbara Weinstein, Director of the Commission on Social Action, issued the following statement:
Today, the United States government has taken an important step toward fulfilling our national commitment to the Green Climate Fund. This $500 million payment, the first toward meeting the United States’ $3 billion pledge by 2020, will help developing countries adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Though no nation is immune to the effects of climate change, too often it is the most vulnerable populations contributing the least to climate change that face its greatest impacts. As one of the world’s largest carbon emitters, the United States has the responsibility to those struggling and suffering with extreme weather, rising sea levels, the spread of new diseases and poor air quality – all of which are the effects of climate change. Even as we work to reduce emissions, our obligation to help with adaptation and mitigation is significant.
Jewish tradition teaches us to be responsible stewards of the earth; we are commanded to “till and to tend” God’s Creation (Genesis 2:15), and that “if there is a needy person among you…you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient” (Deuteronomy 15:17). We take great pride in the knowledge that members of the Reform Jewish community have sent thousands of letters to Members of Congress in support of the Green Climate Fund. Today, those efforts are bearing fruit to and strengthening the global response to climate change.
We will continue to work to ensure that fulfillment of the U.S. pledge to the Green Climate Fund is just one step towards continued efforts to promote environmental health and justice for the earth and all of its inhabitants.
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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose nearly 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.
