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Agency hails Supreme Court climate change decision as lead-up to Earth Day

Young Emma Wills enjoys the fresh, clean water in Makunje village, in Malawi. With support from Church World Service, the Christian Service Committee of Malawi installed a borehole well in the village. Photo: Tammi Mott / Church World Service

April 12, 2007

Church World Service, Pace University announce related water scarcity conference

NEW YORK -- In the lead-up to Earth Day (April 22), humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) is hailing last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency has the power to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, saying it hopes the landmark decision will drive definitive U.S. regulatory action and propel more state initiatives to tackle global warming.

Last September Church World Service joined with the National Council of Churches USA and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) as friends of the court in supporting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the precedent-setting action against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Rev. John L. McCullough, CWS Executive Director and CEO of New York-headquartered Church World Service, says the global agency "intends to continue the momentum beyond the court ruling, beyond Earth Day, and for as long as it takes."

This year, Earth Day organizers have issued "A Call to Action on Climate Change."

Part of the task, McCullough says, is to focus on the world's water resources. Church World Service and the Political Science Department of Pace University, New York City, will co-sponsor a one-day "Thirst for Life" conference April 27 at Pace. The conference, featuring Frederik Pischke of the UN Water Secretariat, is held in conjunction with the United Nations' International Decade for Action: Water for Life.

Church World Service Director of Education and Advocacy Rajyashri Waghray points out that in addition to all the other issues around climate change, water for drinking and household use must be an important part of the discussion. "A key strategy," Waghray says, "for reducing the impact of global warming on vulnerable and marginalized populations, such as shortages of fresh water, is to provide access to safe, affordable water for all."

Waghray is in London this week to participate in a conference, sponsored by British Humanitarian agency Christian Aid, that will examine faith community participation in a proposed campaign on climate change.

Through its "Water for Life" program, CWS works with local partners to provide clean, safe water, an ecumenical voice in the global debate on water and sanitation issues, and to build grassroots support for congressional legislation that supports universal access to water worldwide.

"The impact of climate change, environmental degradation and water scarcity aren't just of concern for the poor in the global south," says CWS' McCullough. "We are all at risk. We are all responsible."

"We hope that by Earth Day 2012, at the expiration of the Kyoto Protocols, the U.S. and the world will have taken significant strides in slowing the planet's race toward an alarming future- and that people will remember what may become the most important judicial ruling of our generation."

For more information on Church World Service environmental justice and Water for Life advocacy, see:

http://churchworldservice.org/Educ_Advo/water

http://churchworldservice.org/Development/water.html

Media Contact:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676;
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526;

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