Virginia Bishops Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington and Barry C.
Knestout of Richmond Jan. 16 signed the U.S. Catholic Climate Declaration, a
document supporting the call to take prudent action to protect the global
climate, which Pope Francis reminds us is “a common good, belonging to all and
meant for all” (“Laudato Si,’ On Care for Our Common
Home,” no. 23).
They join the list of more than 788 members of Catholic dioceses
and institutions in more than 40 states who agree to support climate goals to
reduce emissions worldwide and avoid the most dangerous effects of climate
change. The declaration is an initiative promoted by the Catholic Climate
Covenant.
In their 2015 Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
statement, the U.S. Catholic bishops note, “Care for Creation is a moral issue.
Protecting the land, water, and air we share is a religious duty of stewardship
and reflects our responsibility to born and unborn children, who are most
vulnerable to environmental assault. We must answer the question that Pope
Francis posed to the world: ‘What kind of world do we want to leave to those
who come after us, to children who are now growing up?’ (“Laudato Si,’ On Care for Our Common Home,” no. 160).
The Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 within the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It calls for a reduction in
emissions worldwide to avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change. The
agreement has been signed by 195 UNFCCC members. Hundreds of organizations, now
including the Catholic Diocese of Arlington and the Catholic Diocese of
Richmond, have expressed support for the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.
