Part 4: We Seek an Earth Restored
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."1 We believe that humankind must respect the ecological integrity and the sacredness of the natural world. People must choose activities, create institutions, and establish policies and laws that are beneficial to the earth and will help protect and regenerate its ecosystems.
We recognize that issues regarding the use and protection of the earth's resources are global and require mutual respect and cooperation with every community on earth. Environmental degradation and resource scarcity are among the underlying causes of violence and war. We believe that Friends' testimonies on peace and simplicity have deep relevance to the global environmental crisis.
Humanity must commit to curbing excessive and destructive consumption and pollution. We believe that these responsibilities are urgent and must be acted upon globally, nationally, locally, and individually.
Section 1. Caring for the Earth
The health of the earth's ecosystems and their ability to support life has been and is being seriously impaired by human activities. We deplore the pollution of the earth's land, water, and atmosphere; the decline in biodiversity and nonrenewable resources; and the increase in deforestation and desertification. The world is in the midst of a mass extinction of species, primarily human in cause.
We urge that national legislation promote ecologically sound and safe agricultural, extractive, industrial, and commercial enterprises. Ways must be found to meet the needs of human beings without doing violence to the rest of creation. Specifically we advocate that the U.S. government develop policies that encourage regional and international cooperation for solutions to environmental problems, including environmental standards in trade agreements that assure nations and local governments of their right to establish more stringent environmental protections and standards.
We call for adequate funding of the UN Environmental Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Regional and international cooperation is also required to conserve and allocate diminishing water resources and natural ecosystems. We support efforts to protect open spaces, wilderness areas, and productive farmlands from urban sprawl and development. The military and all government agencies must comply with the same environmental laws and regulations as the private sector.
The federal government must support the expansion of research, development, and implementation of appropriate technologies and strategies to minimize waste and prevent pollution, including a comprehensive recycling program and economic incentives that encourage both the use of recycled materials and the creation of markets for the use of recycled products.
We advocate the development and enforcement of regulations to safeguard biological diversity and international cooperation to abate the loss of biodiversity worldwide.
We advocate the prohibition of brutal and inhumane treatment of animals in food production and animal testing. We support the careful evaluation, regulation, monitoring, and product labeling of synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms and products.
Section 2. Population and Consumption
We believe it is impossible to improve the lives of all the peoples of the earth if the population continues to grow. The failure to confront the problems of population growth and over-consumption will endanger the finite home planet that all people share. We support government policies to promote the education of children and adults on the impact of global population growth and over-consumption.
We support access to, and adequate financial and institutional support for, effective, universally available, safe, and noncoercive family planning in the United States and throughout the world. (See challenge under Health Care in Part III.)
Although most population growth is occurring in the developing world, the average person in the United States consumes and pollutes many times more than does the average person in these developing nations. Massive corporate advertising and many federal policies promote unhealthy levels of consumption. This over-consumption not only threatens the global environment, but also sows the seeds of war and reduces the resources available to meet the world's needs. We urge the federal government to develop economic policies which will sustain general prosperity without high levels of consumption and the associated exploitation and pollution of the environment.
We urge the promotion of life cycle cost analysis, environmental cost analysis, or a similar process to bring the environmental impact of raw materials, production, packaging, use, and final product disposal to the forefront of manufacturing and purchasing decisions for companies and consumers.
Section 3. Global Climate Change and Energy Policy
We believe that the right use and sharing of the world's resources for energy are crucial to human survival and welfare. We realize that land and energy use are inextricably linked to greenhouse gas generation and climate change. We urge that energy policies be based on global humanitarian and environmental concerns rather than narrow commercial, military, or national interests, and that the price of energy reflect its full cost.
All people need equitable access to sources of energy for personal needs and the development of their communities. The great risk to the environment and to future generations posed by increased use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy requires a shift to renewable and less damaging energy sources, increased efficiency, and conservation.
We urge the U.S. government to assume leadership in addressing global warming by ratifying and implementing international agreements; developing strong, fair, and effective policies to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases; promoting energy conservation through federal standards and regulations that reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency for stationary and mobile emission sources; and instituting taxing and pricing policies that more fully reflect and publicize the economic, environmental, and social costs of energy production and use. We support the promotion of research and development of sustainable energy technologies for domestic use and export, adopting incentives for the production and use of renewable energy, and removing regulatory barriers to renewable onsite power generation and distribution.
We urge an explicit moratorium on the construction of nuclear fission power plants and the transportation of nuclear wastes until methods for safe transportation and disposal have been demonstrated. We support policy against reprocessing spent nuclear fuels in the United States and elsewhere.
Section 4. Environmental Restoration and Regeneration
Restoration of the earth requires healing the places damaged by the release of nuclear and other toxic substances. We expect the Departments of Defense and Energy, other government agencies, and private companies to take responsibility for the damage they have caused and work to redress it. We believe the cost of cleanup should be borne by the responsible parties; however, cleanup should proceed promptly and not be delayed by litigation over who ultimately will bear the cost. The dangers of pollution and waste disposal should not fall disproportionately on the world's poor or marginalized peoples. These dangers should be fully disclosed and addressed in consultation with affected communities.
We urge that our federal government participate in this environmental restoration. The government should monitor, limit, and reduce toxic build-ups in both humans and wildlife; enforce penalties for hazardous discharges in excess of legal, risk-based limits; prohibit the export of toxic products; and work to destroy or safely dispose of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and materials stockpiled in the United States, Russia, and other countries.
We also call for the strengthening and enforcement of laws and regulations to protect and clean up water resources, with sufficient funds earmarked for implementation.
We are convinced that all on this earth are interdependent, and we cherish the sacred value of the natural world as God's creation. Impelled by both the sacred and the practical, and inspired by Friends' testimonies, we seek an earth restored.
Download the FCNL Policy Statement