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Hello, my name is Sophie Golomb and I am a Legislative Assistant at the Religious Action 

Center of Reform Judaism, which advocates on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose 

900 congregations across North America include 1.3 million Reform Jews, as well as the Central 

Conference of Americans Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2000 Reform rabbis. I 

thank you for the opportunity to speak today in support of the EPA's Clean Power Plan, a 

proposal to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. These proposed federal 

standards, which target a key source of carbon pollution, mark an historic step in our nation's 

commitment to protecting public health and curbing climate change. 

While climate change is an immense environmental, political and economic challenge, for the 

Reform Jewish community, climate change is a moral and spiritual challenge as well. Biblical 

commentary in Kohelet Rabbah (1:4) reminds us that "one generation goes, another comes, but 

the earth remains the same forever." We understand that as stewards of the environment, we 

have a responsibility to safeguard our planet so that future generation will have clean, breathable 

air and a stable climate. 

Climate change has been linked to some of the most devastating weather events in recent 

memory and has contributed to millions of deaths. As Reform Jews, steeped in the words of the 

Torah and our ancient sages that collectively remind us of our responsibility to the earth and to 

one another, it is incumbent upon us to respond to these disasters without delay, and to work to 

prevent future climate disasters as well. 

That is why, when Hurricane Sandy struck the North East almost two years ago, the Union for 

Reform Judaism swiftly established a Relief Fund, aiding member of our congregations and 

others in areas that suffered loss of food, shelter and clothing. We continue to aid those who have 

suffered in more recent events in the United Stated and abroad. 
But we must also act to pf°event extreme weather events. As you well know, hurricanes, 

droughts, wildfires, and other weather-related events are made more severe by rising 

temperatures, and as concluded in the 2013 UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

report, it is extf°emely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the recently 

observed global warming. 

We appreciate that these proposed standards address the heart of our nation's carbon problem by 

targeting power plants, the country's largest concentrated source of carbon dioxide emissions. 

These reductions will lead to immense environmental and public health benefits. Carbon 

pollution contributes to increases in respiratory ailments, heart attacks and premature deaths. 

Moreover, communities of color, low-income communities, children and older adults are 

disproportionately overburdened by the impacts of carbon pollution. Further, as if weatherrelated tragedies in community's nationwide weren't convincing enough, the recent Third 

National Climate Assessment indicated that climate change is no longer a distant threat looming 

in the future, but an issue that we are already experiencing the impact of in the present. The 

average temperature in the United States has increased by 1.3 degrees to 1.9 degrees Fahrenheit 

since 1895 and most of this increase has occurred since 1970. While a degree or two rise in 

temperature might seem insignificant in a daily weather report, we know the tremendous and 

detrimental impact increasing global temperatures have on the health and safety of communities 

in the United Stated and worldwide. If we do not take the necessary steps to curb climate change 

now, temperatures are projected to rise another 2 degrees to 4 degrees Fahrenheit in the next few 

decades. 

We appreciate that the flexibility of this proposal recognizes that states, cities and businesses 

across the country are already taking steps to reduce emissions through establishing measures to 

increase energy efficiency and transition to renewable resources. This Clean Power Plan works 

with and builds on those efforts to accommodate the diverse needs of each state and the best 

available options. 

It is our responsibility to protect our children and future generations from the impacts of climate 

change. It is our responsibility to help prevent people in every region of this country from ever 

again knowing the devastation caused by wildfires, heat waves, droughts, flooding and 

hurricanes. It is our responsibility to cut our carbon emissions and adopt strong carbon pollution 
standards for existing power plants under this agency's Clean Power Plan proposal. The need for 

limits on carbon emissions has never been more urgent. We need to act now. 

Thank you for taking this vital step towards a cleaner and healthier environment and we look 

forward to continuing to support and work with the EPA and the Obama Administration to fully 

implement strict carbon pollution standards for existing power plants to promote public health 

and combat climate change.