Earth Day Call to Action: Request Responsible Legislation for Environmental Stewardship
As women of faith, our ethic of environmental stewardship is informed by prophetic counsel. For example, President Russell M. Nelson proclaimed: “We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations.”
Likewise, MWEG’s Principle of Ethical Government (2f) states: “Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth, thereby protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens, but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet (see D&C 59:18-21 and D&C 104:13-15).”
We are at a critical juncture for taking effective action and implementing policy to mitigate the effects of climate change. This is particularly urgent for poor and marginalized communities, who are disproportionately impacted by climate change. The climate is changing independent of partisan interests or national boundaries — it is a concern that must be tackled collaboratively. Currently, proposed infrastructure legislation focuses on climate change and addresses other environmental issues, such as improving water infrastructure. Other upcoming environmental policies emphasize land conservation and market-based strategies for carbon reduction.
To do:
In honor of Earth Day (April 22), contact your members of Congress to let them know you are concerned about environmental issues and that you want them to prioritize effective environmental policies. Your personal message, specific experiences, and policy priorities will be impactful to your representative and senators. You may choose to emphasize concerns at the global or national level or focus on issues specific to your state or community. We suggest you choose one or two concepts to focus on. A few ideas are included below:
- Wise stewardship of the earth
- Addressing burdens on vulnerable communities
- Legislation that addresses climate change
- Water quality and infrastructure
- Reducing fossil fuels
- Land conservation
You can submit a letter to all of your elected representatives at once via our website. Go HERE to get letter-writing tips. Go HERE to submit a letter.
Background:
Caring for the environment is a spiritual responsibility and a commandment (see Numbers 35:33-34, Doctrine and Covenants 104:13-17). As women of faith, we take seriously the important obligation to safeguard the earth and her resources for our children and the generations that follow. Because environmental issues occur on a large scale, we must find broad solutions founded in institutional reform if we are to achieve lasting impact. “Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth — protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet” (Mormon Women for Ethical Government: Principles of Ethical Government 2(f)). This responsibility is not a partisan issue but a human one, and environmental protections have historically motivated compromise across ideological and party lines.
Global climate change has far-reaching effects. Carbon emissions cause shifts in patterns of weather, fire, and hydrology; large-scale impacts on biodiversity; and disruption to human systems, including agriculture and food supplies, migration, national security, and economies. Elder Steven E. Snow stated: “Climate change is real, and it’s our responsibility as stewards to do what we can to limit the damage done to God’s creation.” Important environmental issues also include healthy water systems, clean water supply, clear air, and land conservation. Climate change, pollution, and overdevelopment disproportionately impact members of society who are most vulnerable, so as we care for the Earth, we are in turn caring for each other. As emphasized by Sister Sharon Eubank: “[A]re they not linked so inextricably that we can’t do one without caring for the other?”
The Biden administration has proposed legislation targeted at improving the country’s infrastructure, with emphasis on carbon footprint reduction. This legislation includes investments in cleaner transportation options, incentives for electric vehicles, widespread implementation of charging stations for electric vehicles, federal purchase of electric cars, and transitioning the electrical grid to clean energy sources. The plan also proposes improving water systems, with a focus on eliminating lead pipes. The plan emphasizes jobs and innovation, including investments in scientific research, technology, and industry and support for workforce dislocated or impacted by an economy that is shifting away from carbon-based fuels.
The current administration is actively working on international cooperation on climate change. This week, the White House is hosting a climate summit with plans to announce aggressive cuts to U.S. emissions, goals which have been championed not only by environmental and climate advocates but also by executives of more than 300 businesses. The business leaders state that a bold target is necessary to “catalyze a zero-emissions future, spur a robust economic recovery, create millions of well-paying jobs.” Beyond the approaches in the infrastructure plan, other strategies for reducing carbon emissions include market-based approaches, such as taxing carbon and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies.
Land conservation also plays a role in climate change. Natural habitats absorb greenhouse gases, and preserving these spaces prevents the release of additional carbon emissions that would occur with development. Protecting lands in their natural states helps ward off threats to clean air, clean water, and important habitats and protects against extreme weather events. Furthermore, individuals and communities benefit through recreation and interaction with wildlands and natural resources. The 30 by 30 Initiative aims to protect at least 30 percent of our lands by 2030, a proportion that scientists estimate is necessary to reap the benefits of conservation, offer resilience to climate change, and prevent mass extinctions.
Mormon Women for Ethical Government supports bold and creative strategies to protect the environment and care for the earth. In particular, we seek policy and legislation that effectively curbs climate change and reduces carbon emissions, that protects water and air, and that mitigates the impacts of pollution and climate change on marginalized communities. We urge our members to identify personally pressing issues — from local to global levels — and advocate accordingly.