NMIPL IN THE NEWS

Watch EPA Hearings on New Methane Rule

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Several folks from #NewMexico are participating in the @EPA #Methane Rule hearings over the next 3 days.

You can watch live here

(Note: At this link you can also rewind to watch from the beginning. You can watch at different speeds to catch up)

Sister Joan Brown: Will we allow the spiritual wisdom of the young to lead us?

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Following is an excerpt of an opinion piece that Sister Joan Brown, executive director of New Mexico and El Paso Region Interfaith Power & Light wrote in the Gallup Independent.

“..while sometimes we feel despair heavy in the air from many fronts we also see around us signs of hope and spiritual wisdom to guide us. I believe our young people are great partners in our great spiritual work we are given in this time – to address climate justice and care Our Common Home.”

The young, who in recent years have strongly urged us to act, will only inherit the planet we choose to leave to them, based on the concrete choices we make today. – Pope Francis’ written message to world leaders at COP26, Nov. 2, 2021 The UN Glasgow climate meetings that just ended hold only a few bright spots of action forward to limit carbon reductions to address harm already happening. One of those lights that cannot be missed is the engagement of young people from around the world.

But, the question remains, will the world listen to the spiritual wisdom of the younger generations to care for Our Common Home and all living beings whose lives are at stake? 

Young people of many faith traditions were present the last two weeks in Glasgow and their pleas to reduce carbon by phasing out fossil fuels were heard in the streets and halls of the conference. Their words and banners focused on “loss and damage,” care for the forests, and hearing the voices of the most vulnerable countries and peoples.

Listening to their presentations to world leaders and the many videos they created and prayer services they spoke at, I was reminded of Jesus and the children. He commanded the disciples, the leaders around him, to “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kindom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Read full article

Sister Joan Brown: We Must Work for Stronger Methane Rules

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“People of faith see climate change as the greatest ethical and moral concern of our time. Not only do frontline communities, communities of color, the young and old suffer the most from climate change, they are affected most from methane pollution which is linked to our warming climate. We must work for strong methane rules. We must act now for life.”   –Sister Joan Brown

 Here is the press release that carried Sister Joan Brown’s comments

EPA New Methane Safeguards Protect Our Common Home

(Oakland, CA – Nov. 2, 2021) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first national limits on methane emissions from existing oil and gas operations. At the same time President Biden announced a global pledge to slash the climate-warming methane.

Methane pollution is a profound threat to our health and our climate. The oil and gas industry is the largest source of methane pollution in the United States. Addressing this pollution, in the form of leaks from new and existing operations, is the low hanging fruit of climate solutions. 

Sister Joan Brown, osf, Executive Director, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, said: “People of faith see climate change as the greatest ethical and moral concern of our time. Not only do frontline communities, communities of color, the young and old suffer the most from climate change, they are affected most from methane pollution which is linked to our warming climate. We must work for strong methane rules. We must act now for life.” 

Bill Bradlee, National Organizing Director of Interfaith Power & Light said, “People of faith and conscience, with a shared commitment for stewardship of our common home, support strong and effective methane pollution safeguards. Using currently available technology, the U.S. can do its part to meet a global imperative, achieving a 65% reduction of methane from oil and gas by 2025 and more by the end of the decade.  As the largest historic emitter of climate warming pollution, the U.S. must do its fair share and dramatically reduce its methane pollution.”

Interfaith Power & Light urges the EPA to finalize these strong methane safeguards without delay. IPL supports some additional improvements; for example, it must address methane emissions reductions in smaller wells and issues of routine flaring. These must be included before the proposal is finalized to ensure EPA is fully protecting our health and addressing the climate crisis.

Carlsbad Current Argus. Sep. 3, 2020 New Mexico finalizes oil and gas wastewater regulations, lawmakers hear testimony (Rev. Nick King Quoted)

Las Cruces Sun-News,  Aug. 19, 2020, Report on solving climate crisis brings hope (Co-authored by Michael Sells, Clara Sims and Edith Yanez)

Santa Fe New Mexican, Aug. 15, 2020 Vote your values this November  (Commentary by Larry Rasmussen and Tabitha Arnold)