Environmental Policy and our Call to Care for Creation

1. Environmental Policy and our Call to Care for Creation

2. U.S. Environmental Policy and Involvement in International Environmental Treaties

3. Clean Air Act Enacted in 1963. Deals with Air pollution. Acid rain. Protection of the ozone layer. Uses market principles to encourage clean air practices. Intended to cut our dependence on foreign oil.

4. National Environmental Policy Act Enacted in 1969. States that the U.S. is responsible to future generations and should consider what their environment will be like as a result of our actions today. All Americans should have a safe and pleasant environment to live. Use the environment without degrading it or harming others.

5. Find a balance between population growth and the use of our resources so that we can have a high standard of life. Invest in renewable resources and recycle everything that is not renewable.

6. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Enacted in 1976. Related to the NEPA of 1969. Purpose is to �protect health and the environment and to conserve valuable material and energy resources.� Source: http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/rcra.html

7. The Clean Water Act Enacted in 1972. Regulates wastewater discharge. Gives grants to water treatment facilities.

8. The Safe Drinking Water Act Enacted in 1974. Requires water treatment facilities to test their water. Established standards for safe drinking water.

9. Other U.S. Policies Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (1980) A fund for the cleanup of hazardous chemicals. The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (1984) Banned the dumping of hazardous chemicals into landfills. Water Quality Act (1987) Regulates storm water drainage.

10. International Environmental Treaties The Montreal Protocol (1987) The Kyoto Protocol (1997)

11. The Montreal Protocol Enacted in 1987. Main issue: the ozone hole. The ozone layer protects us from too much sun. Clorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in many aerosols and other common household and industrial items, were creating a hole in the ozone layer. CFCs were banned in a gradual phase-out strategy.

12. Originally, the Montreal Protocol had goals of cutting CFC use in developed countries by 50% by the year 2000. In 1990, this goal was revised to a 100% reduction by the year 2000. Developing countries were given 10 extra years to comply with the Montreal Protocol. Kofi Annan said that the Montreal Protocol was �perhaps the most successful international agreement to date.� Source: http://www.theozonehole.com/montreal.htm

13. The Kyoto Protocol Enacted in 1997. Focuses on the reduction of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are widely acknowledged to be the cause of global warming. There is a heavier burden on developed countries because they have contributed more greenhouse gases so far. President Clinton signed this treaty, but the Senate refused to ratify it.

14. President Bush maintains that mandatory protocols will hurt the economy, so he does not enforce compliance. Source: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/kyoto_2-14.html As long as the Kyoto Protocol is not ratified, the U.S. is not required to comply. 178 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and put it into action, even if they did not originally sign it. The U.S. is the only country that signed the Protocol but clearly does not intend to ratify it. Source: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change http://unfccc.int/files/kyoto_protocol/background/status_of_ratification/application/pdf/kp_ratification.pdf

15. Theological Reflection on Environmental Policy and Action

16. Where to begin? Creation is good and we are called by God to care responsibly for it. Personal and communal practices that reflect healthy stewardship of our resources and concern for our planet . Awareness and involvement in environmental policy� �seems to be more of a challenge, though no less important.

17. Where and what can we glean from our religious traditions? From the Christian tradition, the story of the Good Samaritan offers insight and encouragement for our awareness and involvement with environmental policies.

18. The Good Samaritan � Luke 10: 25-37 Unlike the two passers-by before, the Samaritan chooses to stop rather than see and intentionally pass by the one who was stripped, beaten, and left for dead. Attends to the injuries, but doesn�t leave it at that! Takes the wounded with him and removes from harm�s way. Assures there is continued care.

19. We see that care for our neighbor, for the one in need, involves further steps than only attending to acute needs. Environmental policies are ways in which we offer more complete care to our injured planet and its and our future.

20. What Can We Do�? Concrete Actions You Can Take As A Congregation And As Individuals

21. �As A Congregation You�ve made a great start by having a study group focus on this topic! But, don�t let your momentum die out. Go even more in depth and study the actual text of each piece of legislation. Create a bulletin board in your social hall where newspaper articles, ideas & suggestions for action, and other materials can be placed for people to see.

22. Host a letter-writing campaign in your congregation. Gather a number of interested people together and make contacting your legislators a group endeavor! The Lutheran World Relief website can be of service in planning for this. See their �Tips for Letter Writing,� at http://lwr.org/advocacy/lettertips.asp#letters.

23. Host a public lecture in your church building! Possibilities include: one of your legislators; someone from your state�s Lutheran Public Policy Office (http://archive.elca.org/advocacy/state/); a local environmentally-focused club, NGO or other organization (such as the Sierra Club).

24. �As Individuals Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Write to your local, state or national legislators (hand-written letters have a much greater impact than e-mail).

25. Seek out other like-minded individuals so that you can offer one another support and encouragement, as well as sharing ideas. Get involved in an environmental organization that focuses its time, energy and recourses in the realm of public policy. Or�join an environmental group with the express interest in moving that group to become more involved in policy matters.

26. Study Questions Do you think that United States legislation does enough to ensure that we take our appropriate share of responsibility in caring for Creation? Why or why not? What about state and local government policy? Would you consider the U.S. a leader in environmental protection on the international scene? If so, what examples can you offer in support? If not, what could we be doing better, and who is an international leader?

27. Study Questions Why is it important for Christian individuals and communities to take an active interest in caring for God�s Creation? Is it necessary for this interest and concern to carry over into the sphere of political involvement? What is the church�s role in helping to guide the public policy decisions made by local and national governments and international bodies?

28. Study Questions When individuals within our congregation have different beliefs as to appropriate environmental policy, how do we continue to have conversation in spite of our differences? Finally, don�t forget to spend a good deal of time planning your �what next?� steps with the group. Using the �What Can We Do�?� section as a guide, or with your own creative ideas prepare to move forward and continue in your commitment to care for God�s Creation.