New Rule is an Important Step in Preserving Our Earth for Future Generations
Washington, D.C.—The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) applauds President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency for finalizing standards today for dangerous methane pollution from new and modified sources in the oil and gas industry. We believe these standards represent one of the Obama Administration’s most important steps toward keeping Americans safe and healthy. By issuing standards to reduce methane this will also help the United States achieve the goal it pledged in the Paris climate change agreement to cut its greenhouse gas emissions up to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
FAN executive director Patrick Carolan said: "It is because we value our relationship with God and God’s creation that climate change is for people of faith a profoundly spiritual, ethical and moral issue. These standards are a very important step protecting all people from the disastrous impacts of climate change and the oil and gas industry’s air pollution and toxic chemicals. In his encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis stated 'Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone.' (LS202) The standards on methane are critical steps to bringing about the change that Pope Francis spoke about."
Climate justice is about our responsibility as God’s children and people of faith to care for each other and future generations by caring for all of God’s wondrous creation. We are committed to working with the Administration in bringing about this change.
We have attached some talking points for your reference, below.