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June 12, 2002

Interfaith Appeal for Climate Justice
Open Letter to Governor Davis and State Legislators
We, the undersigned, urge you to take action to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions. Global warming presents an immense threat to Creation. At present, scientists expect temperatures to rise between 2.5 and 11 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. Climate change of this magnitude and speed has not occurred in the last ten thousand years. Hotter weather will increase smog, respiratory problems, and speed the spread of disease. These impacts will disproportionately affect our most vulnerable citizens ñ children, the poor, and the elderly. Massive refugee crises could result as islands and populous nations like Bangladesh lose much of their land mass to sea level rise. As religious leaders, we feel compelled to urge you take measures to prevent this unjust and entirely avoidable human catastrophe.

California has a responsibility to address this global threat. Our state emits greenhouse gas emissions rivaling India ñ a country of over one billion people. The United States, the world leader in global warming pollution, has refused to participate in international accords to reduce those emissions. As a state that has been a national leader on environmental protection, California can and should take a different path. By adopting the following measures, California can significantly reduce its contribution to global warming while reducing pollution in our state and creating good jobs. We urge you to implement these three key policies:

1. Increase Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency
California served as a shining example to the rest of the nation with the impressive conservation effort last year that helped get us through the summer without the predicted blackouts.

We applaud the stateís investment in conservation and urge an ongoing commitment to specific conservation targets. Last yearís success proved that conservation equals a real, quantifiable, inexpensive, and clean energy source. Through changes in consumption practices and investments in energy efficiency technologies, the state should set a goal to match one energy conservation "negawatt" to every new megawatt of power generation that is built.

2. Expand Renewable Power to 20% by 2010
Electricity production accounts for 14% of Californiaís in-state greenhouse gas emissions. That number does not include emissions from the production of the power we import from other states ñ which we rely on for nearly half of our total consumption. We believe California should make an aggressive effort to develop new, in-state renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. The stateís energy crisis was partially caused by price spikes in the volatile natural gas market, and our over-reliance on gas-fired power plants. Clean, renewable power provides zero pollution energy and the fuel is limitless and free.

We must remember that the new power plants we build now will be with us for decades to come, impacting future generations. We urge you to take this opportunity to invest in clean energy, which will implement and demonstrate concern for others and generations to come. It doesnít take any longer to build clean plants than dirty ones. The state should set a goal to double its renewable energy resources to reach 20% of our total supply by 2010. This would enable the state to shut down old, heavily polluting plants, and to reduce our reliance on imported power that pollutes our neighborsí air.

3. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Motor Vehicles
Motor vehicles account for approximately 40% of Californiaís total greenhouse gas emissions. California can lead the way to a more efficient generation of vehicles by requiring reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles. This will reduce our reliance on oil and significantly reduce air pollution.

By implementing the three policies above, California can provide national leadership on global warming while protecting our precious natural resources and the health of our most vulnerable citizens. Thank you for considering our views in this crucial matter.

 
Sincerely,

Denominational Leaders Clergy
The Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb
Episcopal Bishop of Northern California

Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Bishop Barbara L. Carter
Community of Christ
San Francisco Bay Mission Center

Bishop Dean W. Nelson
Southwest California Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rt. Rev. Richard Shimpfky
Episcopal Bishop of El Camino Real

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno
Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles

Bishop Beverly J. Shamana
The United Methodist Church
San Francisco Area

The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing
Episcopal Bishop of California

The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno
Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles

Rabbi Alan Henkin
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
Pacific Southwest Council

Joel Baker
United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism
Pacific Southwest Region

Sandra M. Rubenstein
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
West Coast Region

Bishop David G. Mullen
Sierra Pacific Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Drew S. Nettinga
Northern California Nevada Conference
United Church of Christ

The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Blaisdell
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of N. Calif-Nevada

Rev. Linda L. Culbertson
Presbytery of the Pacific
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Donald L. Smith
Synod of Southern California and Hawaii
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Byron Nelson

Sally Hinchman

Sierra Mission Partnership

Presbyteries of Sacramento and Stockton
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. James DiEgidio
San Francisco Presbytery
Presbyterian Church (USA)

Rev. Joseph Lee
Presbytery of San Jose
Presbyterian Church (USA)

 
Ý Organizational Leaders

The Rev. Dr. Gwynne Guibord
California Council of Churches

Sheikh Jamal Lawrence Granick
Northern California Interreligious Conference

Scott Anderson
California Church IMPACT

Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben

Rabbi Mark Diamond

Board of Rabbis of Southern California

Rabbi H. David Teitelbaum

Board of Rabbis of Northern California

The Rev. Sally G. Bingham
The Regeneration Project

Dr. Metwalli Amer
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims

Sr. Georgiana Cahill, SSS, LCSW, CEO
Catholic Charities of San Bernadino/Riverside

Sr. Barbara Dawson, RSCJ
Catholic Charities of the East Bay

Rev. Leonard B. Jackson
Los Angeles Council of Churches

Rev. Al Cohen
Southern California Ecumenical Council

Mark Carlson
Lutheran Office of Public Policy-California

Dafer Dakhil
Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Foundation
Los Angeles

David Rosenstein
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life - Southern California

Rena Shachar
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Bay Area

Lee Wallach
Los Angeles Interfaith Environmental Council

Al Hernandez
California Catholic Conference

Dr. Hamid Mavani
Ý Islamic Cultural Center of N. California Oakland

Rev. Brian Stein-Webber
Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County

Rev. Bill Aulenbach
Interfaith Coalition for Social Justice
Orange County

Margaret Henke
Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment

Rev. Dexter McNamara
Interfaith Service Bureau
Sacramento

Frank Clark
Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Churches

Barry Smedberg
San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council

Rev. Peter Moore-Kochlacs
Environmental Ministries of Southern California

Rev. Walt Parry
Fresno Metro Ministries

The Rev. Michael Hansen

The Rev. Charles Gibbs

The Rev. Cn. Charles Gibbs

The Ven. Dorothy Jones
Episcopal Diocese of California

Rev. Glenn Allison
San Diego Ecumenical Council

Anne Symens-Bucher & Mark Schroeder, OFM
Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation

Franciscan Friars
Santa Barbara Province

Sr. Chandru Desai
Brahma Kumaris
San Francisco

The Rev. Peter Kreitler
Earth Services
Pasadena

Rev. Paul Chaffee
Interfaith Center at the Presidio

Rev. Catherine Campbell
Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of California

Dr. William Sadler
Spiritual Alliance for Earth

Whitney A. Bauman
Theological Roundtable on Ecological Ethics and Spirituality
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley

Sacramento Area

Rev. Kathryn Gulbranson
St. Johnís Lutheran Church

Rev. Robyn Hartwig
Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer

Rev. Stephen Simmonds
Lutheran Campus Ministry, Davis

Rev. Mary Lynn Tobin
Rev. Jim Kitchens
Davis Community Church

Fr. Michael F. Kiernan
Social Justice Coordinator
Catholic Diocese of Sacramento

The Rev. Dr. Richard Visconti
St. Michael's Episcopal Church

Rev. Kay Doyle
Gethsemane Lutheran Church

Rev. Bill Miller
California Church IMPACT

Rabbi Michael M. Remson
Temple Or Rishon
Orangevale

Rev. Gerry Paulsen
New Faith Community Church, UCC
Auburn

Orange County

Sr. Katherine Gray
St. Josephís of Orange

Sr. Marie Gaillac
St. Josephís Justice Center

The Rev. Virginia H. Benson
The Rev. Gordon B. Yeaton, Jr.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

The Rev. Harold Clinehens
St. Wilfrid of York Church, Huntington Beach

Rev. David Dolan
Santa Ana

Los Angeles Area

Rabbi Robert T. Gan
Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles

Rev. Eugene Boutilier
United Church of Christ
Los Angeles

Rabbi Dan Shevitz
Mishkon Tephilo, Venice

Rev. Kathy Cooper-Ledesma
Hollywood United Methodist Church

Rev. Ronald J. Degges
Little White Chapel Christian Church, Burbank

Rev. Paul Lance
Seaside Community Church (UCC), Torrance

The Rev. Coryl J. Lassen
St. Andrew's Church, Ojai

Rev. Paul Kittlaus
United Church of Christ, Claremont

Rev. Dr. Rod Parrott
Disciples Seminary Foundation, Claremont

Rabbi Joel Rembaum
Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles

Rev. Misipouena Tagaloa
Second Samoan Congregational
United Church of Christ, Long Beach

Rabbi Paul J. Kipnes
Congregation Or Ami
Calabasas

Central Coast

Fr. Ron Rocky, O.F.M. Conv
Fr. Charles Kozanecki, O.F.M. Conv
St. Paul the Apostle, Pismo Beach

Rabbi Stephen E. Cohen
UCSB Hillel

San Diego Area

Rev. Ann Moyer
San Diego Mennonite Church

The Rev. Brenton H. Carey
St. Davidís Episcopal Church

The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi
St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Poway

East Bay

Rev. Roger Scott Powers
Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland

Rev. Scott Denman
St. Johnís Episcopal Church, Oakland

Rev. Lucy Kolin
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Oakland

Rabbi Mark Bloom
Temple Beth Abraham, Oakland

Rev. Lois Mueller
Plymouth United Church of Christ, Oakland

Rev. Brad Bunnin
Skyline Community Church, Oakland

Rev. John Nasstrom
United Lutheran Church, Oakland

Rabbi Andrea Berlin
Oakland

Rev. David Borglum
Home of Truth Spiritual Center, Alameda

Rabbi Allen Bennett
Temple Israel, Alameda

The Rev. Dr. John Kater
Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley

Rev. Rolf Bell
Lutheran Minister, Berkeley

Rabbi Gordon Freeman
Congregation Bínai Shalom, Walnut Creek

Rev. Phil Lawson
Easter Hill Methodist Church, Richmond

The Rev. Michael Carney
St. George's Church, Antioch

Rabbi Roberto D. Graetz
Temple Isaiah, Lafayette

Rabbi Dan Goldblatt
Congregation Beth Chaim, Danville

Rev. Steve Harms
Peace Lutheran Church, Danville

The Rev. Raymond Bucher, OFM
San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville

San Francisco

The Very Rev. Alan Jones

The Rev. Cn. Mark Stanger

The Rev. Nina Pickerrell

The Rev. Gerald Shaon

The Rev. Tony Litwinski

The Rev. Fran Tornquist

The Rev. Richard N. Wilmington

The Rev. Mark Ruyak
Grace Cathedral

Rev. Edwin H. Watkins
Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce

Rabbi Helen Cohn

Rabbi Sydney Mintz
Congregation Emanu-El

Rabbi Michael Lerner
Beyt Tikkun Synagogue

Rev. Bob Forsberg
Presbyterian Minister

The Rev. Frank Sawyer
Cathedral School for Boys

The Rev. Rob Droste
Trinity Episcopal Church

Rev. Dr. G. Penny Nixon

Rev. Terri Echelbarger
Metropolitan Community Church

Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow
Mission Bay Community Church

The Rev. Keenan Kelsey
Noe Valley Ministry Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Roger Ridgway
St. John's United Church of Christ

Rev. John S. Anderson
St. John's Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Kenneth Schmidt
All Saints Episcopal Church

The Rev. David Rickey
St. Peter's Episcopal Church

The Rev. Bruce Bayne
St. Lukeís Episcopal Church

The Rev. Jana L. Johnsen
San Francisco

The Rev. Richard Fabian

The Rev. Donald Schell
St. Gregory of Nyssa

Rabbi Sheldon Marder
Jewish Home for the Aged

San Jose Area

Rev. John L. Freesemann
Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church

The Rev. Roger Wharton
San Jose State University

Rev. Jeffrey Vamos
First Presbyterian Church , Palo Alto

Rabbi Sheldon Lewis
Congregation Kol Emeth, Palo Alto

Rabbi Melanie Aron
Congregation Shir Hadash, Los Gatos

Rabbi Michael Lezak

San Mateo

The Rev. Sharon Delgado
United Methodist Church

Northern California

The Rt. Rev. Richard Millard
Retired Episcopal Bishop of California

The Rev. Robert Bryant
Church of Our Savior

Mill Valley

Rabbi Daniel Kohn
Congregation Kol Shofar, Tiburon

Rabbi Leah Sudran
Congregation B'nai Israel, Petaluma

The Rev. Jeremy Blodgett
Church of the Redeemer, San Rafael

The Rev. Todd Evans
First Congregational Church, Sonoma

The Rev. Phillip L. Rountree
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Novato

The Rev. Jan Heglund
Our Savior Episcopal Church, Mill Valley

The Rev. Zoila Schoenbrun
St. Stephenís Episcopal Church, Belvedere

Rabbi Lester Scharnberg
Congregation Havurah Shir Hadash, Arcata

Rev. Paul D. Burks

Santa Rosa

The Rev. Zoila Schoenbrun
St. Stephenís Episcopal Church
Belvedere