Environmental Policy and our Call to Care for Creation.

Environmental Policy and Environmental Policy and

our Call to Care for our Call to Care for

CreationCreation

U.S. Environmental Policy U.S. Environmental Policy and Involvement in and Involvement in

International International Environmental TreatiesEnvironmental Treaties

Clean Air ActClean Air Act

Enacted in 1963.Enacted in 1963. Deals withDeals with

Air pollution.Air pollution. Acid rain.Acid rain. Protection of the ozone layer.Protection of the ozone layer.

Uses market principles to encourage clean air Uses market principles to encourage clean air practices.practices.

Intended to cut our dependence on foreign oil.Intended to cut our dependence on foreign oil.

National Environmental National Environmental Policy ActPolicy Act

Enacted in 1969.Enacted in 1969. States that the U.S. is responsible to future States that the U.S. is responsible to future

generations and should consider what their generations and should consider what their environment will be like as a result of our actions environment will be like as a result of our actions today.today.

All Americans should have a safe and pleasant All Americans should have a safe and pleasant environment to live.environment to live.

Use the environment without degrading it or Use the environment without degrading it or harming others.harming others.

Find a balance between population growth Find a balance between population growth and the use of our resources so that we can and the use of our resources so that we can have a high standard of life.have a high standard of life.

Invest in renewable resources and recycle Invest in renewable resources and recycle everything that is not renewable.everything that is not renewable.

Resource Conservation Resource Conservation and Recovery Actand Recovery Act

Enacted in 1976.Enacted in 1976. Related to the NEPA of 1969.Related to the NEPA of 1969. Purpose is to “protect health and the Purpose is to “protect health and the

environment and to conserve valuable environment and to conserve valuable material and energy resources.” material and energy resources.” Source: Source: http://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/rcra.htmlhttp://ipl.unm.edu/cwl/fedbook/rcra.html

The Clean Water ActThe Clean Water Act

Enacted in 1972.Enacted in 1972. Regulates wastewater discharge.Regulates wastewater discharge. Gives grants to water treatment facilities.Gives grants to water treatment facilities.

The Safe Drinking The Safe Drinking Water ActWater Act

Enacted in 1974.Enacted in 1974. Requires water treatment facilities to test Requires water treatment facilities to test

their water.their water. Established standards for safe drinking Established standards for safe drinking

water.water.

Other U.S. PoliciesOther U.S. Policies Toxic Substances Control Act (1976)Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation and Liability Act (1980)Compensation and Liability Act (1980) A fund for the cleanup of hazardous chemicals.A fund for the cleanup of hazardous chemicals.

The Hazardous and Solid Waste The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (1984)Amendments (1984) Banned the dumping of hazardous chemicals Banned the dumping of hazardous chemicals

into landfills.into landfills. Water Quality Act (1987)Water Quality Act (1987)

Regulates storm water drainage.Regulates storm water drainage.

International International Environmental TreatiesEnvironmental Treaties

The Montreal Protocol (1987)The Montreal Protocol (1987) The Kyoto Protocol (1997)The Kyoto Protocol (1997)

The Montreal ProtocolThe Montreal Protocol

Enacted in 1987.Enacted in 1987. Main issue: the ozone hole.Main issue: the ozone hole. The ozone layer protects us from too much sun.The ozone layer protects us from too much sun. Clorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in many Clorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in many

aerosols and other common household and aerosols and other common household and industrial items, were creating a hole in the industrial items, were creating a hole in the ozone layer.ozone layer.

CFCs were banned in a gradual phase-out CFCs were banned in a gradual phase-out strategy.strategy.

Originally, the Montreal Protocol had goals Originally, the Montreal Protocol had goals of cutting CFC use in developed countries of cutting CFC use in developed countries by 50% by the year 2000.by 50% by the year 2000.

In 1990, this goal was revised to a 100% In 1990, this goal was revised to a 100% reduction by the year 2000.reduction by the year 2000.

Developing countries were given 10 extra Developing countries were given 10 extra years to comply with the Montreal Protocol.years to comply with the Montreal Protocol.

Kofi Annan said that the Montreal Protocol Kofi Annan said that the Montreal Protocol was “perhaps the most successful was “perhaps the most successful international agreement to date.” Source: international agreement to date.” Source: http://www.theozonehole.com/montreal.htmhttp://www.theozonehole.com/montreal.htm

The Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol

Enacted in 1997.Enacted in 1997. Focuses on the reduction of greenhouse gases.Focuses on the reduction of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse gases are widely acknowledged to be Greenhouse gases are widely acknowledged to be the cause of global warming.the cause of global warming.

There is a heavier burden on developed There is a heavier burden on developed countries because they have contributed more countries because they have contributed more greenhouse gases so far.greenhouse gases so far.

President Clinton signed this treaty, but the President Clinton signed this treaty, but the Senate refused to ratify it.Senate refused to ratify it.

President Bush maintains that mandatory President Bush maintains that mandatory protocols will hurt the economy, so he does not protocols will hurt the economy, so he does not enforce compliance.enforce compliance. Source: Source:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/kyoto_2-14.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/kyoto_2-14.html

As long as the Kyoto Protocol is not ratified, the As long as the Kyoto Protocol is not ratified, the U.S. is not required to comply.U.S. is not required to comply.

178 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and 178 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and put it into action, even if they did not originally put it into action, even if they did not originally sign it.sign it.

The U.S. is the only country that signed the The U.S. is the only country that signed the Protocol but clearly does not intend to ratify it.Protocol but clearly does not intend to ratify it. Source: UN Framework Convention on Climate ChangeSource: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

http://unfccc.int/files/kyoto_protocol/background/status_of_ratification/application/pdf/kp_ratification.pdfhttp://unfccc.int/files/kyoto_protocol/background/status_of_ratification/application/pdf/kp_ratification.pdf

Theological Reflection Theological Reflection on Environmental Policy on Environmental Policy

and Actionand Action

Where to begin?Where to begin?

Creation is good and we are called by Creation is good and we are called by God to care responsibly for it.God to care responsibly for it.

Personal and communal practices that Personal and communal practices that reflect healthy stewardship of our reflect healthy stewardship of our resources and concern for our planet .resources and concern for our planet .

Awareness and involvement in Awareness and involvement in environmental policy… environmental policy… ……seems to be more of a challenge, though no seems to be more of a challenge, though no

less important.less important.

Where and what can we glean Where and what can we glean from our religious traditions?from our religious traditions?

From the Christian tradition, the story of From the Christian tradition, the story of the Good Samaritan offers insight and the Good Samaritan offers insight and encouragement for our awareness and encouragement for our awareness and involvement with environmental policies. involvement with environmental policies.

The Good Samaritan – The Good Samaritan – Luke 10: 25-37Luke 10: 25-37

Unlike the two passers-by before, the Unlike the two passers-by before, the Samaritan chooses to stop rather than see and Samaritan chooses to stop rather than see and intentionally pass by the one who was stripped, intentionally pass by the one who was stripped, beaten, and left for dead.beaten, and left for dead.

Attends to the injuries, but doesn’t leave it at Attends to the injuries, but doesn’t leave it at that!that!

Takes the wounded with him and removes Takes the wounded with him and removes from harm’s way.from harm’s way.

Assures there is continued care. Assures there is continued care.

We see that care for our neighbor, for the We see that care for our neighbor, for the one in need, involves further steps than one in need, involves further steps than only attending to acute needs.only attending to acute needs.

Environmental policies are ways in which Environmental policies are ways in which we offer more complete care to our we offer more complete care to our injured planet and its and our future.injured planet and its and our future.

What Can We Do…?What Can We Do…?

Concrete Actions You Can Take As A Concrete Actions You Can Take As A Congregation And As IndividualsCongregation And As Individuals

……As A CongregationAs A Congregation

You’ve made a great start by having a study You’ve made a great start by having a study group focus on this topic! But, don’t let your group focus on this topic! But, don’t let your momentum die out.momentum die out.

Go even Go even more more in depth and study the actual in depth and study the actual text of each piece of legislation.text of each piece of legislation.

Create a bulletin board in your social hall Create a bulletin board in your social hall where newspaper articles, ideas & suggestions where newspaper articles, ideas & suggestions for action, and other materials can be placed for action, and other materials can be placed for people to see.for people to see.

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

Host a public lecture in your church Host a public lecture in your church building! Possibilities include: building! Possibilities include: one of your legislators; someone from your one of your legislators; someone from your

state’s Lutheran Public Policy Office (state’s Lutheran Public Policy Office (http://http://archive.elca.orgarchive.elca.org/advocacy/state//advocacy/state/); a local ); a local environmentally-focused club, NGO or other environmentally-focused club, NGO or other organization (such as the Sierra Club).organization (such as the Sierra Club).

……As IndividualsAs Individuals

Write a letter to the editor of your local Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.newspaper.

Write to your local, state or national Write to your local, state or national legislators (hand-written letters have a legislators (hand-written letters have a much much greater impact than e-mail).greater impact than e-mail).

Seek out other like-minded individuals so that Seek out other like-minded individuals so that you can offer one another support and you can offer one another support and encouragement, as well as sharing ideas.encouragement, as well as sharing ideas.

Get involved in an environmental organization Get involved in an environmental organization that focuses its time, energy and recourses in that focuses its time, energy and recourses in the realm of public policy. Or…join an the realm of public policy. Or…join an environmental group with the express interest environmental group with the express interest in moving that group to become in moving that group to become more involved more involved in policy matters.in policy matters.

Study QuestionsStudy Questions

Do you think that United States legislation does Do you think that United States legislation does enough to ensure that we take our appropriate enough to ensure that we take our appropriate share of responsibility in caring for Creation? share of responsibility in caring for Creation? Why or why not? What about state and local Why or why not? What about state and local government policy?government policy?

Would you consider the U.S. a leader in Would you consider the U.S. a leader in environmental protection on the international environmental protection on the international scene? If so, what examples can you offer in scene? If so, what examples can you offer in support? If not, what could we be doing better, support? If not, what could we be doing better, and who and who is is an international leader?an international leader?

Study QuestionsStudy Questions

Why is it important for Christian individuals and Why is it important for Christian individuals and communities to take an active interest in caring communities to take an active interest in caring for God’s Creation? Is it for God’s Creation? Is it necessary necessary for this for this interest and concern to carry over into the interest and concern to carry over into the sphere of political involvement?sphere of political involvement?

What is the church’s role in helping to guide the What is the church’s role in helping to guide the public policy decisions made by local and public policy decisions made by local and national governments and international bodies? national governments and international bodies?

Study QuestionsStudy Questions

When individuals within our congregation have When individuals within our congregation have different beliefs as to appropriate different beliefs as to appropriate environmental policy, how do we continue to environmental policy, how do we continue to have conversation in spite of our differences?have conversation in spite of our differences?

Finally, don’t forget to spend a good deal of Finally, don’t forget to spend a good deal of time planning your “what next?” steps with the time planning your “what next?” steps with the group. Using the “What Can We Do…?” group. Using the “What Can We Do…?” section as a guide, or with your own creative section as a guide, or with your own creative ideas prepare to move forward and continue in ideas prepare to move forward and continue in your commitment to care for God’s Creation.your commitment to care for God’s Creation.