AMERICA/UNITED STATES - Bishops' "Serious concern" for President Trump's decision on the Paris Agreement

Friday, 2 June 2017 environment   episcopal conferences   bishops   politics  

Washington (Agenzia Fides) - President Donald J. Trump announced yesterday that the United States will not honor the Paris agreement on climate change. The United States and China, the two largest carbon emitters, and 195 other nations, signed the agreement that was ratified in November 2016. The Paris agreement establishes that nations must reduce their carbon dioxide emissions in order to keep global temperatures well below a two-degree Celsius increase in relation to pre-industrial levels.
In the statement published yesterday, Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, stresses that, although the Paris agreement is not the only possible mechanism for addressing global carbon mitigation, the lack of a current viable alternative is a serious concern.
"The USCCB has voiced support for prudent action and dialogue on climate change since its 2001 statement: ‘Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good’. In a letter to Congress in 2015, the U.S. Bishops, along with the presidents of Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services, encouraged the United States to sign the Paris agreement. They have since reiterated their support on several occasions. Pope Francis and the Holy See have also consistently voiced support for the Paris agreement", concludes the statement. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 02/06/2017)


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