Green Issues and Campaigns The Pending American Energy Act - Some Moral Considerations Catholic social teaching has concern about poor people and poor nations. We know that the adverse effects of climate change fall more heavily on them. They are more affected by it, least able to cope or adapt to it, and do the least to contribute to its causes. The U.S. Bishops: "Action to mitigate global climate change must be built upon a foundation of social and economic justice that does not put the poor at greater risk or place disproportionate and unfair burdens on developing nations." The American Energy Act (Kerry-MA/Lieberman-CT) just introduced fails the test, as does the earlier House-passed measure. The poorest countries have to be helped, but the Senate measure withholds (meager) funding until 2019. Too little and too late. On the plus side, both House and Senate measures provide adequate protections to offset anticipated rises in energy costs for low-income people in the U.S. For more information see the website of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change - www.catholicsandclimatechange.org |