President Obama announces climate plan with a theological justification

When US President Barack Obama unveiled his historic Climate Action Plan on Tuesday he followed up on his 2013 inaugural promise to "preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God".

The President highlighted three motivating factors in stepping up the United States' efforts to address climate change: what is known about the dangers of climate change, a faith in the power of American innovation and ingenuity, and a responsibility to future generations to be stewards of God’s creation.



"His speech was inspiring and profoundly encouraging, and it was an awesome experience to witness the first time a President of the United States has taken such a bold step to cut carbon pollution," said Rev Canon Sally Bingham, founder of Interfaith Power & Light in the US.

"When I was going to school in 1979-1980 in Los Angeles, there were days where folks couldn't go outside. And the sunsets were spectacular because of all the pollution in the air. But at the time when we passed the Clean Air Act to try to get rid of some of this smog, some of the same doomsayers were saying new pollution standards will decimate the auto industry. Guess what -- it didn't happen. Our air got cleaner" - Obama

"That [investing in clean tech] is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared," Obama said, at the end of the climate segment of his speech.

"This is a victory, but it is not the end of the journey to a secure future for creation. That will take all of us working together to make our voices heard so that our leaders will act," commented Liz Schmitt and Janelle Tupper of the Sojourners.

You can let President Obama know about your support of his Climate Action Plan by sending a letter from this page.