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^„^ OFFYCE OF DOMESTIC SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 

3211 Fourkh Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20017-1194 

202-541-3188 (direct), Fax: 202-541-3339 

e-mail: ccalvo@usccb.org

To:	Gina McCarthy 

From:	Cecilia Calvo 

Envirozimental Justice Program Coordinator 

Faz Number:	202-501-1450 

Date:	May 29, 2014	 ! 

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Pages:	3 (includinc cover page) i 

Subject:	Letter from the Un.ited States Conference of Catholic Bishops 

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Please deliver to Administrator McCartliy the attached letter from Archbishop Thdmas G. 

Wenski, Ck^airman of the Committee on Domestzc Justice and Human Development of the 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"1'hank you for your assistance.

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CONFIDENTIa,LITY NOTICE Thls facs^m^le ^s mtend for che so ed	ie use of	the individual or enti to whlch it isiddressed and ty maY 

conraln confidential and privileged material, wh!ch is exempt fTom disclosure under appllcable law. This meoge is for the sole use 

of the Intended rec!pients(s). Any review or distrlbuaor,, dlstribution, or copying of this communicatlon by otheFs Is strictly 

prohlblted. If you are not an intended recipient and rece!ved this communication in error, please notify the sender by phone or email and destr'cy thls message and any attachments. Thank you. 	 I. 

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NFA Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Develvpment 

^	 3211 FOURTFi STREET NL • WASHINGTON DC 20017-1194 • 202-5a1-3160 i 

s	 WHBSITE: WWW_USCCB.OI'.Q/JPHD - k'AX 202-541-3339

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May 29, 2014 

Gina McCarrhy 

Administrat,or 

U.S. Environrnental Protection Agency 

Washington, DC 20460 

Dear Administrator McCarthy: 

I write on behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to a,ddress the 

Environmental Protection Agency's ef£orts to develop standards to reduce carbon poll' tion from 

existing power plant.s and thereby mitigate elimate change. The USCCB recognizes th importanee 

of fmding means to reduce carbon pollution. These standards should protect the health' and welfare of 

all people, especially children, the elderly, as well as poor and vulnerable communities, from hartnfal 

pollution emitted frozn power plants and from the irnpacts of climate change. 

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As bishops and people of faith, we do not speak as experts on carbon pollution or on the technxcal 

remedies to address climate chauge. W e are pastors in a faith tradition that teacbes, asl!Pope Franeis 

recently stated, "Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that ^e care for it 

and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude." 

The best evidence indicates that power plants are the largest stationary souree of car n emissions in 

the United States, and a major contributor to elimate change. Power plants have ofteni.been located 

near low-income zxeighborhoods and eommunities of color. Air pollution from these ^,lants 


contributes to respiratory problems, especially in the young and the elderly.	;' 

)^ffores to address climate change must take into aceount creation and its relationship to "the least of 

these" (Matthew 25). Too frequently we observe the darnaging impacts from climate -related events 

in. the United St,ates and across the globe, particularly on poor and vulnerable commu^uities. Beyond 

the regulations, the United States should exercise leadership for a globally negotiated1:clirnate ehange 

agreement.

We know that the eommunities served by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) are alreadyrexperiencing 

the tra.gic consequenees of elimate change. Tncreasingly limited access to water, redui Oed crop yields, 

more widespread disease, increased frequency and intensity of droughts and storms, as vvell as 

confliet ovex deelining resources — all these are making the lives of the world's poorelst people even 

more precarious.

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Therefore, as we wrote in our statement, Global Climate Change.- A Plea for Dialogu"e, Prudence 

and the Common Good, "Action to mitigate global clirnate change must be built upon' a foundation of 

social and econornic justice."

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Letter to Gina McCarkhy	 I 

May 29, 2014 

Page 2 

As the EPA takes steps to address climate change and reduce carbon pollution, we asls you to be 

guided by the following principles taken frona our statement and the teaching of Pope rancis: 

. ftespect for Fiuman Life and Dignity. The regulations and all efforts to redu e the impact 

of climate change should respect kzuman life and dignity, especially that of the ipoorest and 

most vulnerable: from children in the womb to the elderly. In particular, these ineasures must 

protect poor and vulnerable communities and persons from the health impacts of climate 

change, including exposure to climate-sensitive diseases, heat waves and dimiftished air 

quality.	 ! 

• Prudence on Behalf of the Common Good. We believe that wise action to address climate 


change is required now to pzotect the common good for present and future gez6rations. 

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• Prioraty for the Poor and Vulnerable. The consequences of climate change will bc borne 

by the world's most vulnerable people; inaction will worsen their suffering.

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• Social and Econoniic Justice. Workers should be protected from negative 

e^jtigate 

cts on the 

workforce resulting from the new standards and should receive assistance to 	impacts 

on their livelihoods and families. Any additional costs that such standards may generate must , be distributed fairly, without undue burden on the poor.

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• Care for creation. We are called to be responsible stewards of the earth and tb use the gifts 

we have been given to protect human life and dignity, now a.nd in the future. 

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- Participation. Local cozzununities should have a voice in shaping these stand#ds based on 

their local impact, especially low-income communities whose voice is often not heard. It is 

in accord with their dignity that they participate in this process.

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We appreciate your commitment to address this urgent global challenge confronting tl^e human 

family. 'The USCCB stands ready to work with you, the Administration, and members of Congress to 

ensure that measures necessary to address climate change both care for creation and p^rotect "the least i 

of these." 

Sincerely, 

Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski 

Archbishop of Miami 

Chairman, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Developrnent