The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Environmental Stewardship and Care of Creation presented its Report #5 on Resolution D064 (Endorse and Encourage Green Deal Legislation) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D064)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church acknowledges our planet's continued descent into climate chaos, including our projected arrival to 1.5 degrees celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels, the target limit set out in the Paris Climate Accords within the next few decades; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church recognizes that our projected arrival at 1.5 degrees may lead to a 2 degree warming beyond pre-industrialized levels which would cause mass migration, a loss of coral reefs, increased exposure to deadly heat stress, and significant damage to public infrastructure; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Office of Government Relations and urge all Episcopalians to advocate for our governments to address environmental and ecological issues, not least the Green New Deal and other associated "Green Deals," to be defined as “broad and ambitious packages of new policies and investments in communities, infrastructure, and technology to help communities, regions, and nations achieve environmental sustainability and economic stability”; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call on all elected and appointed officials to advocate for policies to combat climate change, not least the Green New Deal and other associated "Green Deals" in states and local areas; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention charges the dioceses and parishes of the Episcopal Church with advocating for those same policies in their communities and states; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Office of Government Relations and urge all Episcopalians to support regulation of major polluting industries, including cryptocurrencies, industry, and agriculture, as well as transitioning to a green economy; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention charge the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church to add a question to the Parochial Report regarding how each parish is reducing their carbon footprint and to share those results as a whole with the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention charges the dioceses and parishes of the Episcopal Church with taking concrete actions to reduce the effects of climate change; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention directs the Executive Council and the Standing Committee on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons to study and consider the possibility of adding portions relating to environmental stewardship in the Canons of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention transmit a message to each diocese of the Episcopal Church with a copy of this resolution before each Diocesan Convention following the 80th General Convention.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church acknowledges our planet's continued descent into climate chaos, including our projected arrival to 1.5 degrees celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels, the target limit set out in the Paris Climate Accords within the next few decades; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church recognizes that our projected arrival at 1.5 degrees Celsius may lead to a 2 degree Celsius warming beyond pre-industrialized levels which would cause mass migration, a loss of coral reefs, increased exposure to deadly heat stress, and significant damage to public infrastructure; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Office of Government Relations and urge all Episcopalians to advocate for our governments to address environmental and ecological issues, not least the Green New Deal and other associated "Green Deals," to be defined as “broad and ambitious packages of new policies and investments in communities, infrastructure, and technology to help communities, regions, and nations achieve environmental sustainability and economic stability”; and be it further

Resolved, That The Episcopal Church call on all elected and appointed officials to advocate for policies to combat climate change, not least the Green New Deal and other associated "Green Deals" in states and local areas; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention charges the dioceses and parishes of The Episcopal Church with advocating for those same policies in their communities and states; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention direct the Office of Government Relations and urge all Episcopalians to support regulation of major polluting industries, including cryptocurrencies, industry, and agriculture, as well as transitioning to a green economy; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention charge the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church to add a question to the Parochial Report regarding how each parish is reducing their carbon footprint and to share those results as a whole with the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention charges the dioceses and parishes of The Episcopal Church with taking concrete actions to reduce the effects of climate change; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention directs the Executive Council and the Standing Committee on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons to study and consider the possibility of adding portions relating to environmental stewardship in the Canons of the Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention transmit a message to each diocese of The Episcopal Church with a copy of this resolution before each Diocesan Convention following the 80th General Convention.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #176)