EPA Climate Change

EPA Gets Support from Unlikely Source – Evangelicals

EPA Climate Change

Evangelicals have thrown their support behind the EPA and its new plan to help protect the environment and prevent pollution.

On June 2, 2014, EPA proposed a new “commonsense” plan to help reduce carbon pollution given off by power plants. While states and businesses nationwide have begun taking action in reducing climate change risks, EPA uses the plan to build on their actions. It is flexible, acknowledging that states have different sources and opportunities. Its aim is to cut pollution while providing reliable and affordable energy.

Evangelicals and Entrepreneurs Support the EPA and its Plan

Environmental Entrepreneurs, a national, nonpartisan business group of environmentalists, and the Evangelical Environmental Network, which works to “take care of God’s creation,” both delivered comments in support of EPA’s plan, which looks to slash carbon emissions to 30% below 2005 levels.

The executive director of Environmental Entrepreneurs, Bob Keefe, said that their groups “represent very different sectors of America,” which he believes demonstrates the “broad support for the Clean Power Plan.” He submitted a letter of support signed by 350 business leaders, from Google to solar installers.

Hescox, the Evangelical Environmental Network president and CEO, turned in 229,000 comments from over 102,000 “pro-life Christians.” They contrasted the recent research that indicated “almost 4 in 10 Evangelicals are still skeptical about climate change.” Hescox said that the comments reflected the belief that “climate change is the greatest moral challenge of our time.”

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A Controversial Plan

GOP officials and the coal industry executives have stated that the EPA plans are far too costly, with too little of an effect on climate change. “Asking Americans to pay more in return for less energy and few jobs is not a plan that provides them the economic security they deserve,” the president and CEO of the National Mining Association, Hal Quinn, said.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader, felt obligated to halt the EPA’s plans on regulating emissions after his re-election in Kentucky, a coal-heavy state that mainly works with power plants.

“We have a moral responsibility to act, and it’s time the church stands up and is that moral voice, not for the Democrats or Republicans, but to stand on biblical principles that we can unite all America together to care for this common problem,” said Hescox.

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