A Case Example A Case Example of Advocacyof Advocacy

The National Religious Partnership The National Religious Partnership for the Environment for the Environment

The World BankThe World Bank

April 23, 2009April 23, 2009

Walter E. Grazer, Special AdviserWalter E. Grazer, Special AdviserNational Religious PartnershipNational Religious Partnership

For the EnvironmentFor the Environment

Who is the Partnership?Who is the Partnership?

Its MembersIts Members• United States Conference of United States Conference of

Catholic Catholic BishopsBishops• National Council of ChurchesNational Council of Churches• Evangelical Environmental NetworkEvangelical Environmental Network• Coalition on the Environment and Coalition on the Environment and

Jewish LifeJewish Life• Allied faith based organizations like Allied faith based organizations like

CRS, World Vision, Church World CRS, World Vision, Church World Service, etc.Service, etc.

What is the PartnershipWhat is the Partnership

The Partnership is a formal The Partnership is a formal arrangement among independent arrangement among independent religious communities who share a religious communities who share a common biblical faith but draw upon common biblical faith but draw upon distinctive traditions to offer a moral distinctive traditions to offer a moral vision and the resources of religious life vision and the resources of religious life to a to a universaluniversal effort to protect effort to protect humankind's common home and well-humankind's common home and well-being on Earth. being on Earth.

General ProgramsGeneral Programs

While unique and distinctive, While unique and distinctive, each community undertakes each community undertakes scholarship, leadership training, scholarship, leadership training, congregational and agency congregational and agency initiatives, and public policy initiatives, and public policy education in service to education in service to environmental sustainability and environmental sustainability and justice. justice.

Public Policy Public Policy

Each community has its own focus—NCC Each community has its own focus—NCC and COEJL—energy, EEN-endangered and COEJL—energy, EEN-endangered species, USCCB-health and povertyspecies, USCCB-health and poverty

Each community has a major statement Each community has a major statement on climate change/values and policyon climate change/values and policy

Recent common focus-climate/povertyRecent common focus-climate/poverty

ADVOCACYADVOCACY

““Climate Fairness Agenda: A Climate Fairness Agenda: A Religious Call to Address Global Religious Call to Address Global Climate Change and Poverty”Climate Change and Poverty”

Statement of Values and Policy Statement of Values and Policy Principles to guide common Principles to guide common advocacy effortsadvocacy efforts

Care for God’s Creation and Love of Care for God’s Creation and Love of NeighborNeighbor

Advocacy Values and PrinciplesAdvocacy Values and Principles

SummarySummary– Commitment to the Common Good—source of Commitment to the Common Good—source of

solidarity not divisionsolidarity not division– Moral obligation to “stand up for voiceless and Moral obligation to “stand up for voiceless and

vulnerable”vulnerable”– Making protection of people living in poverty a Making protection of people living in poverty a

central focus of any climate policy, legislation central focus of any climate policy, legislation or treatyor treaty

– Equal concern for climate/poverty connection Equal concern for climate/poverty connection here in the US and in the most vulnerable here in the US and in the most vulnerable developing nationsdeveloping nations

Advocacy Policy GoalsAdvocacy Policy Goals

Assist most vulnerable developing countriesAssist most vulnerable developing countries—through international adaptation—through international adaptation

Promote local community participation in Promote local community participation in design and administration of adaptation design and administration of adaptation projectsprojects

Address deforestation while protecting land Address deforestation while protecting land tenure and indigenous rightstenure and indigenous rights

Best practicesBest practices

Share appropriate technology on affordable Share appropriate technology on affordable basis basis

Advocacy--HistoryAdvocacy--History

June 2007—Joint Appearance before US June 2007—Joint Appearance before US Senate EPW Committee—First time everSenate EPW Committee—First time ever

Fairness Agenda Released—October 2007Fairness Agenda Released—October 2007

Faith community announces displeasure Faith community announces displeasure with unreleased Senate bill-Late October with unreleased Senate bill-Late October 0707

Work starts with Senate sponsors on Work starts with Senate sponsors on international adaptation—Senators Boxer, international adaptation—Senators Boxer, Lieberman and WarnerLieberman and Warner

Advocacy--HistoryAdvocacy--History

Two Step Dance—one foot forward—one foot Two Step Dance—one foot forward—one foot backward-unfortunately you trip if done a the backward-unfortunately you trip if done a the same timesame time

Development of legislative language on Development of legislative language on international adaptationinternational adaptation

Personal meeting with Senator John Warner—Personal meeting with Senator John Warner—co-sponsor of Senate Climate legislationco-sponsor of Senate Climate legislation

Legislation dies in US Senate—June 08 Legislation dies in US Senate—June 08

Advocacy—HistoryAdvocacy—HistoryAction Switches to the HouseAction Switches to the House

Dormancy stage-June 07-Janaury-09Dormancy stage-June 07-Janaury-09

Chairman Waxman—Chairman Markey Chairman Waxman—Chairman Markey and House draft legislation—released and House draft legislation—released March, 09March, 09

Activities during dormancy stage and Activities during dormancy stage and during early months of 09 till present during early months of 09 till present work on language and finding championswork on language and finding champions

Meeting with Chairman Waxman-March Meeting with Chairman Waxman-March 1616

THE FUTURETHE FUTURE

Primary Goal – continue to promote Primary Goal – continue to promote inclusion of strong section on international inclusion of strong section on international adaptation in any US climate policy andadaptation in any US climate policy and

Work with new Obama Administration to Work with new Obama Administration to support international adaptationsupport international adaptation

Work with faith based colleagues in other Work with faith based colleagues in other countries to garner support for countries to garner support for international adaptation in any new international adaptation in any new international treaty international treaty