April 1, 2015 -- The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns (MOGC) applauds the Obama Administration’s announcement yesterday of the U.S. Intended Nationally Determined contributions (INDCs) that will reduce emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025.
“Pope Francis recognizes that communities living in poverty, such as the ones where Maryknoll missioners serve, are the people who suffer the greatest impacts of climate change,” said Chloe Schwabe, Faith-Economy-Ecology Project Coordinator for the MOGC. “Our missioners already see food insecurity in Africa, devastating super typhoons in Asia, and water scarcity in Latin America resulting from climate change.”
“While we applaud yesterday’s announcement of the INDCs, we recognize that we must do even more to meet the United States’ moral obligation to communities most vulnerable to climate change. These actions include passing and implementing policies that further reduce our nation’s collective contributions to climate change; and leveraging additional funds for climate adaptation and recovery from climate-related disasters. This is essential for building climate resilience for our neighbors who live in poverty around the world,” Schwabe noted.
“Congress has an opportunity to provide this leadership today by fully funding the U.S. contribution to the Green Climate Fund, a $500 million request in the President’s FY16 budget.”
