Resolution Adopted by the CCAR
NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY
Resolution adopted at the 111th
Convention of the
Central Conference of American Rabbis
March, 2000
Background
Since the 1970s, the organized Jewish community has
consistently supported federal policies and programs to reduce U.S.
consumption of fossil fuels. The United States’ historic and
increasing reliance on fossil fuels compromises our national security
by creating dependence upon oil-producing nations; causes and
exacerbates illness for millions of our citizens; and degrades our
environment – through acid rain, global warming, and the destruction
of natural areas.
For 25 years, the organized
American Jewish community has unanimously advocated action to reduce
our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels through energy conservation and
the development of environmentally sound, non-nuclear energy
technologies. We have advocated investment to accelerate the
development of new technologies when they were largely underdeveloped.
We urged action to reduce fossil fuel use before climate change was
confirmed. We supported the development of public transit before many
Americans spent hours each day in traffic.
Despite
decades of advocacy by public interest groups, pressure from
industrial interests and consequent Congressional inaction has
prevented progress. In 2000, the average fuel economy of all new
passenger vehicles is at its lowest point since 1980, while fuel
consumption is at its highest. American vehicle manufacturers are
significantly behind Japanese competitors in bringing new auto
technologies to market. U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, already the
highest per capita in the world, are rising steadily. Trends are
equally poor across a broad spectrum of American energy use. We have
made almost no progress in 20 years.
We stand at the beginning
of a new century. The vast majority of scientists and policy experts
agree that if dramatic action is not taken soon, it is very likely
that human well-being and global geo-political stability in the 21st
century will be gravely affected by global climate change. In
addition, many economists believe that aggressive development of
environmentally friendly technologies and products will create U.S.
jobs, enhance U.S. competitiveness in the global economy, and
demonstrate U.S. leadership toward a sustainable energy future for the
entire planet.
We have a solemn obligation to do
whatever we can within reason both to prevent harm to current and
future generations and to preserve the integrity of the creation with
which we have been entrusted. Not to do so when we have the
technological capacity – as we do in the case of non-fossil fuel
energy and transportation technologies – is an unforgivable abdication
of our responsibility.
Therefore, the Central
Conference of Rabbis calls upon all Reform households, schools,
synagogues, and camps to:
- develop environmental policies for our religious
institutions;
- consider installing solar Ner Tamids, Eternal Lights,
for our religious sanctuaries;
- dedicate a Shabbat or holiday to discuss energy
consumption from a Jewish perspective;
- join interfaith communities nationally this
year, the 30th anniversary of Earth Day which occurs during
Passover, to show our Jewish support for seeking alternative energy
sources and reducing consumption.
Furthermore, the CCAR calls upon Congress
and the Administration to set aside
the concerns of special interests and do the following:
- encourage the development of alternative
energy sources, i.e., solar, hydro, fuel-cell, wind
- close the loophole that allows sport
utility vehicles, mini-vans, and pick-up trucks (over 50% of passenger
vehicles sold) to meet significantly lower fuel economy standards than
cars;
- raise
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for all passenger
vehicles to a minimum of 45 miles per gallon by 2010 and 65 miles per
gallon by 2020;
- support investment in environmentally friendly energy
technologies;
- phase
out all subsidies for coal, oil, and nuclear industries by
2005;
- provide tax
credits for investments to make homes and buildings more energy
efficient;
- create
progressively strict emissions standards, including carbon dioxide
emissions, for all power plants regardless of fuel source or
age.