U.S. Bishops Chairman Opposes Environmental Executive Order

March 29, 2017
By Ss. Peter & Paul

WASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump
issued an Executive Order on March 28, 2017 that rescinds and weakens numerous
environmental protections, and effectively dismantles the Clean Power Plan
(CPP), the national program designed to reduce carbon emissions from power
plants by 32% in relation to 2015 levels by the year 2030.
Fossil fuel-fired power
plants are the largest pollution emitting sector, making up just under one-third
of U.S. total greenhouse gas emissions.

“The USCCB, in unity with Pope Francis,
strongly supports environmental stewardship and has called consistently for
‘our own country to curtail carbon emissions,'” said Bishop Frank J. Dewane of
Venice, Florida, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human
Development, in response to the order. “This Executive Order places a number of
environmental protections in jeopardy and moves the U.S. away from a national
carbon standard, all without adopting a sufficient plan for ensuring proper care
for people and creation. Yesterday’s
action means that, sadly, the United States is unlikely to meet its domestic
and international mitigation goals.”

The USCCB
has voiced support for a national carbon emission standard in recent years, though
the Church does not privilege one set of technical, economic, or political
approaches over another. Bishop Dewane
stresses that, although the CPP is not the only possible mechanism for reducing
carbon emissions, the lack of a current viable alternative is a serious
concern.

“The EPA Administrator has repeatedly
stated that policies must be pro-growth and pro-environment. An integral approach can respect human and
natural concerns and still achieve these aims, if properly done. Many states have already made great progress
toward carbon mitigation goals under the CPP, and this momentum ought to be
encouraged and not hindered. Pope
Francis’ encyclical, Laudato si’, focuses on both the ‘the cry of the
earth and the cry of the poor.’ With this
recent order, the Administration risks damage to our air, our waters and, most
importantly, our people, particularly the poor and vulnerable, without proposing
a concrete and adequate approach to meet our stewardship obligations as a
nation.”

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB,
Environmental Executive Order, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Clean Power Plan (CPP),
Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, environmental protection,
carbon emissions, Environmental Protection Agency, carbon mitigation, Pope
Francis, Laudato si’, air quality,
stewardship.

Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops