It is clear that we are in the midst of a climate crisis requiring immediate action, not only at the federal level but also in Pennsylvania, the fifth-largest greenhouse gas polluting state in the nation. If we are a large part of the problem, we must be part of the solution — our natural world, of which we are stewards, cannot afford to wait.
This is why I offered public testimony in December in support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multistate cap-and-invest program among nearly a dozen Northeast and Middle Atlantic states with a proven track record of reducing carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants. Proceeds generated by RGGI’s quarterly auctions of carbon allowances are then used to clean our air, produce cleaner energy including solar and wind, and support workers and communities impacted by the transition away from fossil fuels. RGGI revenues can also help residents in front-line communities bearing a disproportionate burden from polluting industries.
The December hearings, 10 over five days, were easily accessible online or over the phone to the almost 500 people who participated and kept us safe during the pandemic as we did not need to travel to make our voices heard. Nearly 95% of testifiers spoke in support of RGGI. The Department of Environmental Protection should be commended for the thoughtful way it solicited comments from Pennsylvanians.
We must be proactive on climate action, and the time is now to link to RGGI. Waiting is not an option. “Laudato Si” (Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical) emphasizes that it is time to move away from a purely economic view of our natural world and reminds us that climate change is essentially a moral and ethical responsibility.
SISTER NORA. M. NASH
Director, Corporate Social Responsibility
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Aston, Pa.
First Published: March 14, 2021, 5:00 a.m.
