CIPL is bringing the voice of California's religious community into the public debate over global warming. While we aim to set a good example with our energy choices, we know that our faith communities acting alone cannot turn the tide of global warming. The policies that our government and our society as a whole choose to adopt will ultimately determine the extent to which we alter the earth's climate.

Below is a brief summary of current issues and legislation as well as our past victories on reducing global warming pollution. You can make your voice heard by getting involved and sharing this information with your friends and congregational members. We hope this information is useful as you continue your environmental stewardship and educational process concerning the causes of global warming and what individuals and organizations can do to help mitigate its effects on the Earth we all cherish.

 
California’s Climate Plan Must be Equitable and Effective

Statement from California Interfaith Power and Light on the

ARB Proposed Scoping Plan in October 2008

California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL), representing a broad coalition of religious organizations who have come together to address global warming, applauds the California and the Air Resources Board for the Proposed Scoping Plan released October 15, 2008.

CIPL considers global warming to be the moral issue of our time.  The effects of global warming will be devastating to all, but especially to the world’s most vulnerable.  We are thankful to California for taking a leadership role in developing a solution.

The Proposed Scoping Plan delivers critically needed air quality and public health improvements, as well as safeguards to protect our natural resources. The plan puts California on a path to reduce global warming emissions by 30% by 2020 as required by AB 32.  The plan also emphasizes the importance of developing a green economy workforce and the benefits to California’s overall economy that will come from a transition to a green technology.

However, CIPL is disappointed that 100% auctions of allowances are not clearly mandated in this plan.

Auctions of carbon allowances within a cap-and-trade system require polluters to pay for using our shared resources, rather than handing them windfall profits. Revenue from auctions can then fund programs to assist vulnerable communities in coping with rising energy costs, such as low-income home weatherization and energy bill payment assistance. It is also needed to fund green jobs training to allow low-income communities to fully participate in the new clean energy economy .  While we are pleased to see that CARB has a goal of 100% auctions, we believe that standard should be a requirement.  Our health, our resources and our citizens most affected by higher energy costs and pollution cannot afford a delay.

The Proposed Scoping Plan comes after the release of the Draft Scoping Plan was released in June.  It is due to be approved by the CARB in December.  The full plan can be found here:  HYPERLINK "http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/psp.pdf" http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/psp.pdf

CARB will vote on the plan in December. We will keep our members informed so you can weigh in on this important decision.

2007 Public Policy to Watch

As a state, California's global warming emissions surpass Germany's and rival India's, a nation of over one billion people. Because our emissions are so high, state-level policies can have global significance. Therefore, over the past several years, CIPL has been actively supporting public policies to promote clean energy and reduce global warming pollution in California.

Each year since 2001, California Interfaith Power and Light has brought the voice of the religious community to bear in key public policy debates in California. Successful legislation we have helped pass include the Clean Car Act of 2003, a 20% renewable energy requirement for the electricity sector, and funding incentives for solar power.

CIPL is pleased with the success we have had bringing the voice of our members to enact public policies that are consistent with our moral values and our common religious imperative to protect the earth. It is our position that California, as the world's sixth largest economy and a major source of greenhouse gases, has a responsibility to take a leadership role in solving this global problem.

2007: Solar Water Heating, Lighting Efficiency, and Cleaner Fuels
In 2007, the following legislation was passed at the state level: AB 1470, the Solar Hot Water and Efficiency Act of 2007 creates a statewide incentive program for small-scale rooftop solar hot water technologies, and AB 118 - The California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of 2007.

2006: AB32: A statewide GHG emissions Cap
This landmark law sets a GHG emission reduction target to reduce statewide GHGs to 1990 levels by 2020. The California Air Resources Board is beginning a lengthy process to determine how to accomplish this.

2005: A Million Solar Rooftops
The Million Solar Roofs Initiative combats global warming by investing in solar energy. Senate Bill One, authored by Kevin Murray, was California Interfaith Power and Light's legislative priority for 2005.

The Million Solar Roofs legislation gives new homebuyers the option to go solar, with a goal of putting solar panels on half of all the new homes and a million solar homes and businesses by 2018. This would generate 3,000 megawatts of clean solar energy equivalent to a dozen peaking power plants. Replacing these dirty power plants with clean solar energy will prevent the release of more than 50 million tons of global warming pollution.

An opinion piece supporting Million Solar Roofs written by CIPL President Rev. Sally Bingham and CIPL Member Rabbi Zoe Klein was published in June in three Southern California newspapers.
To read the piece, click here.

 
West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative
The goal of this effort by the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington is to create a cooperative strategy for reducing global warming pollution in the region. CIPL organized a sign-on letter to Governor Schwarzenegger from religious leaders calling for a strong plan with significant, quantifiable, emissions reductions. Click here to view the letter sent to Governor Schwarzenegger in December 2004. Simultaneously, our sister organization, Oregon Interfaith Power and Light, sent a similar letter signed by 50 religious leaders from Oregon to Governor Kulongoski.

The West Coast Initiative was initiated in 2003 following a successful 2001 effort by six New England governors and five premiers of eastern provinces of Canada to create a regional climate action plan. That plan has set target goals for emissions reductions to 1990 levels by 2010, 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 75% - 85% reduction in the long term.

Currently, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is promoting reducing California's emissions levels to 2000 levels by 2010, 10% below 2000 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2000 levels by 2050. CIPL is supporting these goals, and the enactment of policies to make them mandatory and achievable.