A098 HD Committee #15 Report #14

House of Deputies Committee 15 - Environmental Stewardship & Care of Creation presents its Report #14 on Resolution A098 (Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation) and moves:

Concur

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention recognize and salute the efforts of the COP 28 [Conference of the Parties (COP)]  to bring about  the phase-out of fossil fuels in order to combat harmful climate change and its many damaging effects on vulnerable countries, communities, and people,   

Resolved,  That this General Convention direct representatives of The Episcopal Church to seek further steps towards the phase-out of fossil fuels in future international negotiations, including  the upcoming COP 29 meetings scheduled for Baku, November 2024, as well as in implementing legislation and regulations in the United States; and be it further 

Resolved, That this General Convention direct the Office of Government Relations to support public policy steps to reduce the adverse impacts of a fossil fuel phase-out on people and communities reliant on such industries for jobs, investment, and tax revenue; steps consistent with General Convention Resolution 2018-D081,and be it further 

Resolved, That Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations, and all other institutions of The Episcopal Church be strongly encouraged: to review in detail their use of fossil fuels, including fossil-fuel fired electricity, for transportation, heating and cooling, and other purposes as well as their financial reliance, if any, on investments in fossil fuel extraction, production, and refining; to create, by September 30, 2026, a plan for the reduction in use and eventual phase-out of their use of  out fossil fuels and fossil fuel generated electricity in their operations and divestment of fossil-fuel based investments, with the target date for completion of December 31, 2034; to post their plan and periodic updates on their websites and to report this information to the Office of Creation Care in a form and at a frequency provided by that office; and be it further  

Resolved, that by December 31, 2025, the Office of Creation Care create standard materials and guidance for dioceses and congregations to use in preparing such plans and update reports; and  be it further 

Resolved, That the General Convention request  the Executive Council to consider a budget allocation (excluding meeting expense already in GCO budget) of $40,000 to primarily address the development of website updates, forms development, and identify staff support the implementation of this resolution.

 

That the 81st General Convention authorize Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations, and all other institutions of The Episcopal Church to recognize the efforts of the COP 28  [Conference of the Parties (COP)] regarding fossil fuel non-proliferation and to begin the process of planning in support of this work as reiterated by The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church in October 2023; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention reiterate its engagement in the work of The Episcopal Church, and international organizations to which it is connected, to turn back the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, recognizing the urgent, concentrated action in this present moment that is needed to prevent the suffering of life on this planet, in the near term and the future; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention acknowledge the work of the nations of Vanuatu and Tuvalu, along with other Pacific Island nations, to forge the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization and the European Parliament, along with thousands of civil society organizations and individuals committed to the mitigation of climate change and the factors that contribute to it; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention recognize that the Treaty is calling the people of the world not just to make technical adjustments to negative impacts on the planet, but to transform lives by phasing out fossil fuel production and the reliance on fossil fuels by the parties to the Paris Accords; and be it further

Resolved, That this General Convention endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty as it is set before the United Nations Climate Summit, held in Dubai in December, 2023; and be it further

Resolved, That Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations, and all other institutions of The Episcopal Church be strongly encouraged to create a plan for phasing out fossil fuels over the next 10 years, post the plan on its websites, present an annual update report at the annual meeting of the diocese and/or ministry, and provide plan and annual updates to the Office of Creation Care; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention requests the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation (excluding meeting expense already in GCO budget) of $40,000 to primarily address the development of website updates, forms development, and identify staff support the implementation of this resolution.