50 signatures reached
To: The Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church
Divest Baltimore Washington Conference of United Methodist Church from Fossil Fuels!
The Conference will through the appropriate Boards, Agencies, and Committees:
1. Immediately stop and instruct asset managers to stop any new investment in fossil fuel companies; and
2. Ensure none of its directly held or commingled assets include holdings in fossil fuel public equities and corporate bonds within 5 years as determined by the Carbon Tracker list; and
3. Release semi-annual progress reports.
Why is this important?
WHEREAS, all creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space are to be valued and conserved because they are God’s creation and not solely because they are useful to human beings. God has granted us stewardship of creation; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge the global impact of humanity’s disregard for God’s creation. Rampant industrialization and the corresponding increase in the use of fossil fuels have led to a buildup of pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere. These “greenhouse gas” emissions threaten to alter dramatically the earth’s climate for generations to come with severe environmental, economic, and social implications. The adverse impacts of global climate change disproportionately affect individuals and nations least responsible for the emissions; and
WHEREAS, any truly effective strategy to combat climate change will likely require … keeping a significant portion of remaining fossil-fuel reserves in the ground rather than burning them. … (T)hat roughly 80% of the world’s fossil fuel reserves cannot be consumed without pushing the earth’s temperature beyond 2˚ C increase that climate scientists believe marks the tipping point beyond which impact are likely to be catastrophic; and
WHEREAS, we can invest in alternatives – better companies, better strategies, better outcomes. We can invest in the future, and in those companies whose technologies and solutions will help catalyze the transition to a truly sustainable global economy; and
WHEREAS, for decades, fossil fuel companies have spent millions of dollars to influence legislation in state capitals and Congress and have been very successful in their efforts to block carbon emission goals and cut off support for clean and renewable energy sources.