Thousands of Christians Call on President Obama to Do iT in Durban

U.S. Fails to Lead in Climate Negotiations

Washington, December 9, 2011 – Thousands of U.S. Christians are calling on President Obama and his Administration to “Do iT in Durban” by urging U.S. negotiators to “work for climate justice for all of God’s people, provide adaptation assistance for the most vulnerable, and protect God’s great Creation.”

Yet not only is the United States failing to lead at the climate conference currently taking place in Durban, South Africa, the U.S. is working to stall the next phase of a globally binding agreement until 2020.

“As people of faith, we believe the United States has a moral obligation to ensure a fair, ambitious and binding agreement is put in place as the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end and that any agreement must provide adaptation assistance for the most vulnerable around the world,” said Cassandra Carmichael, Director of the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Programs.

Representatives of the NCC’s member communions attended the meetings to bring the voice of U.S. Christians to Durban.

John Hill of the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, Mike Schut of the Episcopal Church, and Bill Somplatsky-Jarman of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have all been present at the meeting. All of them brought delegates from around the world to provide testimony to the impact that climate change is having on their communities and families.

With time running out for the Durban climate negotiations, it remains to be seen what will come from this process. However, it is clear that people of faith around the world want strong leadership and a moral response that will ensure climate justice for all of God’s children.

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org