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Good afternoon. My name is Terry Wiggins, and I am representing the Interfaith Earth 

Network of Southeastern Wisconsin. Our various faiths call us all to do the same thing, though 

we often express it in different language. 

I am a Unitarian Universalist, and one of my principles is to respect the interdependent web of 

all life of which we are a part, and another is to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every 

person. 

The Christians among us say that "Care for God's Creation" is what's important to them. Here 

are samples from a few of the many Christian denominations: 

• The two most recent Roman Catholic popes have spoken out on this topic: Pope 

Benedict XVI said, "If you want to cultivate peace, protect Creation." 

• The Evangelical Climate Initiative, signed in 2006, claims: 

o Human-Induced Climate Change is Real 

o The Consequences of Climate Change Will Be Significant, and Will Hit the Poor 

the Hardest 

o Christian Moral Convictions Demand Our Response to the Climate Change 

Problem 

o The need to act now is urgent. Governments, businesses, churches, and 

individuals all have a role to play in addressing climate change-- starting now. 

• United Methodist Social Principles state "All creation is the Lord's, and we are 

responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it." Further, their General Board of 

Church & Society published a resolution in 2008 on environmental stewardship, which 

lays out their theology of Stewardship and the Environment, and Principles for Christian 

Stewardship of the Environment, which include 

o Responsible use of natural resources 

o Right to Live in a Community Free of Toxic and Hazardous Substances 
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o Right to clean air 

o Responsible Land Use 

o Preservation of the Diversity of Life 

• Lutherans have been strong in their teachings on the Environment; Lutheran 

theologians have been influential leaders of the religious environmental movement. In 

a statement, they encourage their congregations to advocate with their local and state 

governments individually and corporately through local and state councils of churches. 

Muslims also care about the environment. A few of the concluding statements in the 2003 

Islamic Faith Statement on the Environment, tell us that 

" ... There are several Qur'anic principles that ... taken in their totality, state in clear terms that 

Allah ... is the Creator of the Universe and indeed, its Owner. ... 

Allah has invited people to partake of the fruits of the earth for their rightful nourishment and 

enjoyment; He has also directed them not to waste that which Allah has provided." 

"Furthermore, Allah has also ordered humans to administer his responsibilities with Justice. 

Above all, people should conserve the balance of Allah's creation on Earth. " 

I could easily go on with many more statements from Hindu, Buddhist, and other faith 

perspectives, but my time is about up. 

I will conclude by saying that our faiths call us to make any progress we can toward a cleaner 

environment. One step along the way would be to have a cleaner and safer power sector. The 

Carbon Pollution Standard, as proposed by EPA, is an important part of that progress. But it is 

only part of the solution because it would only apply to new power plants, and power plants 

are not the only source of carbon pollution. While there may be some strong and influential 

voices for weakening this standard, I say, from a religious perspective, that it needs to be 

strengthened, finalized, and adopted. 

Thank you. 

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