What’s Carbon Pricing and Why Should Faith Leaders Care About It?
Carbon emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels is still the largest contributor to climate change around the world. Implementing fair carbon pricing will ensure that fossil fuel companies are held responsible for the impact they have on the climate, counter to the current situation in which fossil fuel companies are permitted to emit harmful emissions with little to no consequence. Carbon pricing will not only hold corporations responsible for their emissions but will strengthen our economy, according to the World Bank, while ensuring that our children have healthy air to breathe.
Still there are a few pervasive myths about carbon pricing that are altering public option. Get the truth about carbon pricing and why faith leaders should care about it with the Climate X Change fact sheet.
Blessed Tomorrow leader and Conference Minister and President of the United Church of Christ in Massachusetts, Rev. Jim Antal, is one of the faith leaders who has added his signature to the Climate X Change, Massachusetts Interfaith Call for Carbon Pricing. Rev. Antal, with a host of faith leaders from diverse traditions in the Massachusetts area, have recognized the need for a swift move toward carbon pricing based on their shared moral responsibility to care for creation, and to ensure the safety and economic prosperity of their communities. Add your voice to the call for carbon pricing today!
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Massachusetts Interfaith Call for Carbon Pricing
As clergy and religious leaders in Massachusetts, we urgently call upon our elected representatives to enact legislation placing a price on carbon that reflects its costs to the climate, public health, and the economy.
While we come from diverse religious traditions, we share the conviction of Pope Francis that we bear a moral and spiritual responsibility to respond boldly to the climate crisis. Climate change threatens not only future generations, but also the most vulnerable of our neighbors today.
As Pope Francis has affirmed, “There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced.” These policies, Francis insists, must assure that “the economic and social costs of using up shared environmental resources are recognized with transparency and fully borne by those who incur them, not by other peoples or future generations.”
Pricing carbon is a fair and effective way to strengthen our economy, encourage use of clean and renewable energy, and protect our children and neighbors from the worst ravages of climate change. A carbon fee sends accurate price signals to the market, and rebating the revenues on an equal per-person basis progressively benefits low-income residents. (For more information, click here.)
May we leave a legacy for which our children and grandchildren will bless us.
Please use your vote, voice, and influence to put a price on carbon.