date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 15:01:55
from: Bob Carling <carling@tcp.co.uk>
subject: CEC Resolution on Climate Change
to: m.hulme@uea.ac.uk

As promised.

Bob Carling

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>From: "Calvin B. DeWitt" <cbdewitt@facstaff.wisc.edu>
>Subject:      CEC Resolution on Climate Change
>To: EEN-L@PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM
>
>Hello Dan,
>
>It was nice to see you at Canby.  Here is a note for the EENet on the
>resolution as Stan LeQuire cabled it through Western Union to President
>Clinton and Vice President Gore.
>
>Dear EENet Participants,
>
>The Christian Environmental Council adopted unanimously a resolution
>on Climate Change at its meeting on Saturday, October 18, 1997 after
>careful deliberation.  It comes at a time when the President may well
>act to provide strong leadership at the upcoming Summit on Climate
>Change in Kyoto, Japan.  Support from evangelicals on this may be
>particularly significant, and thus also this resolution.
>
>Please distribute this resolution as you believe to be appropriate.
>
>For a start on the abundant literature on this topic I recommend that you
>consult the internet at the following addresses:
>
>        http://www.usgcrp.gov/ipcc/  for information on the Intergovernmental
>                Panel on Climate Change
>
>        http://www.dieoff.org/page128.htm  for the World Scientists' Call for
>                Action at the Kyoto Climate Summit
>
>        http://www.dieoff.org/page105.htm  for the Economists' Statement on
>                Climate Change of Feb. 13, 1997
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Calvin B. DeWitt
>
>###
>___________________________________
>
>
>     CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON THE POSITION OF THE
>     UNITED STATES AT THE CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT IN KYOTO
>
>     Whereas Scripture persistently affirms that Christians are to seek
>     justice for the less powerful of the Earth and to care for the rest of
>     Creation, and
>
>     Whereas the potential consequences arising from Global Warming
>     seriously threaten both, and
>
>     Whereas the upcoming third meeting of the Conference of the Parties
>     (COP-III) to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), to be
>     held in Kyoto, Japan, December 1-12, 1997, promises to be the most
>     important meeting to date of the Nations of God's Earth who are
>     concerned about Global Warming, and
>
>     Whereas decisions made at this meeting could determine for years to
>     come the human response to the threat of climate change, and
>
>     Whereas reports indicate that the policy options being considered by
>     the Administration on the position of the United States at Kyoto are
>     substantially less than what is required to seek justice for the less
>     powerful and care for the rest of Creation,
>
>     Be it therefore resolved, that we, the Christian Environmental
>     Council, assembled in Portland, Oregon, October 18, 1997, call upon
>     you, President Clinton and Vice-President Gore, to exercise strong,
>     just, and decisive leadership in addressing the challenge of Global
>     Warming.  Specifically, we urge that the Clinton administration
>     advocate a legally-binding reduction of at least ten percent in
>     emission of greenhouse gases for all of the industrialized countries
>     of God's earth by 2010.
>
>     Signed: Calvin B. DeWitt
>     President
>     October 18, 1997
>
>
>_______________________________________________________
>
>###
>
>Contacts:
>
> Dr. Calvin DeWitt - via Dr. Peter Bakken, 608-255-0950
> Dr. Richard Wright 978-927-2300 ext. 4382
> Rev. Stan LeQuire  610-649-8090
>
>
>_______________________________________________________
>
>Here is an corresponding news release prepared by:
>     Michael Nyenhuis
>     Moderator
>     Strategies Committee
>     Christian Environmental Council
>
>
>     News Release from the:
>     CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
>
>     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Oct. 20, 1997
>
>     Contacts:
>     Dr. Calvin DeWitt - via Dr. Peter Bakken, 608-255-0950
>     Dr. Richard Wright 978-927-2300 ext. 4382
>     Stan LeQuire  610-649-8090
>
>     CHRISTIANS URGE CLINTON TO TAKE LEAD AT CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
>
>     October 20, 1997 - The Christian Environmental Council today urged
>     President Clinton to take a strong leadership role at the upcoming
>     international conference on climate change, to be held in Kyoto,
>     Japan, December 1-12.
>
>     A resolution sent to the White House expressed the Council's desire
>     that the "Clinton administration advocate a legally-binding reduction
>     of at least 10 percent in the emission of greenhouse gases for all of
>     the industrialized countries of God's earth by 2010."
>
>     "The climate of earth is God's gift to life -- it's not ours to defile
>     or destroy," said Dr. Calvin DeWitt, president of Christian
>     Environmental Council. "Do we have the courage to tell this to the
>     world? Do we have the courage to lead?"
>
>     The resolution resulted from the Council's annual meeting this weekend
>     in Portland, Oregon. Attending were representatives of 41 Christian
>     groups, including The Christian Society of the Green Cross, Christian
>     Environmental Association,  and the Evangelical Environmental Network.
>
>     The Christian Environmental Council is a gathering of evangelical
>     leaders concerned with creation care. The Council was instrumental in
>     the successful defense of the Endangered Species Act in 1996.
>
>     The Council's deliberations on global climate change were guided by six
>     environmental scientists from a wide array of colleges and
>     universities. Dr. Richard Wright, author of the textbook Environmental
>     Science: The Way the World Works, and professor of biology at Gordon
>     College in Massachusetts expressed the Council's concerns: "Twelve of
>     the last 17 years are the hottest on record for global temperature. Sea
>     level is rising at a rate of 3 millimeters a year. Violent storms and
>     climatic fluctuations like the El Nino have been increasing in recent
>     years. It seems obvious that the burning of fossil fuels increases the
>     atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide resulting in major changes
>     in the climate."
>
>     Concern for the "the less powerful of the Earth" and "the rest of
>     creation" motivated the resolution. "These changes in the climate will
>     have their greatest impact on people in the developing world where
>     environmental degradation is already seriously impacting their way of
>     life," said Wright.
>
>     The Council emphasized that all of the global climate change scenarios
>     predict major shifts in rainfall and temperature over mere decades.
>     "These shifts will impact ecosystems in serious and unpredictable
>     ways. In a world struggling to feed an expanding population, global
>     climate change represents the greatest threat to our agricultural
>     capacity," said Wright.
>       ###
>
>     The mission of the Christian Environmental Council is to serve the
>     church and society in all matters concerning the care of creation. The
>     council provides a forum for discussion of mutual concerns, a
>     structure to facilitate joint action, and a platform for expression of
>     common views.
>
>     The Names and Affiliations of CEC's consulting scientists:
>     Dr. Jeff Greenberg, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
>     Dr. Jeff Schloss, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA
>     Dr. John Wood, Kings University College,  Edmunton, Alberta
>     Dr. Calvin DeWitt, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
>     Dr. Ken Peterson, Dort College, Sioux Center, IA
>     Dr. Richard Wright, Gordon College, Wenham, MA
>
>     ###
>
>
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Dr R.C.J. Carling,               Home address
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