On Monday President Trump formally announced to the United Nations that he has begun the year-long process of withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement-the agreement that brought together almost 200 nations to address climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation efforts, and climate finance. As the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, exiting the Paris Agreement is an abdication of our moral responsibility to address climate change and protect vulnerable peoples.
In light of the President’s action, LCWR issued a statement (see below) registering our objection and promising to continue to raise our voices against climate policies that harm God’s creation.
Sincerely,
Carol Zinn, SSJ
Executive Director | Leadership Conference of Women Religious
LCWR Troubled by US Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement
The Leadership Conference of Women (LCWR) was deeply disappointed by President Trump’s 2017 pledge to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement and we are profoundly troubled by the decision to formally request US withdrawal from this critically important international agreement. Catholic teaching is clear — climate change is a grave moral issue that threatens our commitment to: protect human life and dignity, exercise a preferential option for the most vulnerable, promote the common good, and care for God’s creation. The failure of the United States to fulfill its 2015 commitment dishonors our nation and threatens our common home. We will continue to raise our voices against climate policies that harm Earth and its people and to advocate for climate justice.
LCWR is an association of leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States. The conference has nearly 1300 members, who represent more than 38,800 women religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, LCWR assists its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to further the mission of the Gospel in today’s world.
