Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Keeping the Faith Despite the Latest News

Today you read that President Trump signed an Executive Order reversing the Clean Power Plan and other strong national environmental policies. The bad news is that the president believes that climate change is a hoax, despite the fact that 2016 was the hottest year on record and the third record-breaking year in a row. The good news is the vast majority of Americans in both political parties support building a clean energy economy. 

Do not despair and do not lose heart. We have won so much more than we have lost, and the tide of history is turning in our favor. The National Association of Clean Air Authorities reports as of today: 75% of US states are already meeting their 2022 interim greenhouse gas targets under the Clean Power Plan, 20% of states are already meeting their 2030 final targets, and 85% are on track to meet the 2030 targets. In China, where multitudes of people are dying each year from pollution and climate change, the government is aggressively turning away from coal and investing in renewables. No matter what the carbon barons would have us believe, the age of fossil fuels is soon to end. 

As people of faith we hold fast to the mystery of hope, especially in this season of death and resurrection.  This Executive Order is the last gasp of a dying order, while together we are crafting a just transition to a clean energy future. 

Thank you for our shared partnership in this great work,

The Earth Ministry Team