EVANGELICAL LEADERS OUTLINE PRINCIPLES FOR GLOBAL WARMING POLICY

EVANGELICAL LEADERS OUTLINE PRINCIPLES FOR GLOBAL WARMING POLICY

Contact: Debbie Payton

(678) 541-0750 - office or (404) 245-8500 cell,
dpayton@RooftopMediaWorks.com

EVANGELICAL LEADERS OUTLINE PRINCIPLES FOR GLOBAL WARMING POLICY

Traditional, Conservative Perspectives Vital to Sound Climate Policy,
Evangelicals Contend

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2007-Leaders with the Evangelical Climate
Initiative called on public officials today to draw on traditional,
conservative perspectives to address the challenge of climate change
facing the United States and the world. Federal policy must maximize the
free market, care for the most vulnerable, assure national security, and
protect personal freedom, evangelical leaders said in a document of
principles that "should guide government officials as they establish
policies at the federal level to begin to solve global warming."

In the paper released today and announced in print ads that will run
Thursday in the Washington Times and Roll Call, the Evangelical Climate
Initiative outlined 10 principles for policymakers, including a call for
the "scope of the free market to be maximized to allow innovation,
ingenuity, and entrepreneurship to generate climate solutions, and to
ensure that U.S.
businesses can compete internationally in clean technologies."

The principles document reads: "We are in favor of climate policies that
reduce our dependence on foreign oil (e.g. increasing fuel economy) and
thereby enhance our energy security and our advocacy of religious
freedom and human rights."

Since the launch of the Evangelical Climate Initiative last year, there
has been great interest in a broader discussion of the solutions and how
they should be applied, and public officials have expressed a desire for
more information on evangelical positions on these issues," said the
Rev. Jim Ball, national spokesperson for the Evangelical Climate
Initiative. "This document is an effort to begin addressing these
questions and to offer policymakers guidance on how global warming
policies should be created."

The 10 principles read in part:

1. The Problem is Real, the Objective Clear

We believe that human-induced global warming is real and, based on
nearly universal agreement in the scientific community, we encourage
policy-makers to accept this fact.

2. Maximize Freedom in Solving the Problem

When government deals with global warming, a proper policy framework
will establish the "rules of the road" and what businesses call
"regulatory certainty," which can enhance freedom by allowing us to
begin to solve a problem whose impacts will severely limit that freedom
in the future if not addressed.

3. Maximize Protection from Harm from Generation to Generation

A primary function of government is to protect all of its citizens from
undue harm, be it from foreign invaders, criminals, or pollution that
impacts human health.

4. Take Special Care to Protect the Most Vulnerable

The most important way that federal government policy can protect the
poor here and around the world from the impacts of global warming is to
begin to solve the problem by reducing CO2 emissions 80 percent by 2050.

5. Enhance National and Energy Security, International Religious
Freedom, & Rural Economic Development

American reliance on foreign oil also undermines our national security,
and makes us dependent on undemocratic, despotic foreign regimes that
restrict the religious liberty of their peoples, and threaten the
stability of democratic allies such as Israel.

6. Disburse Decision-making Authority to the Lowest Possible Level

A robust response to the threat of global warming will involve
individuals, families, churches, businesses, and governments at multiple
levels. In particular, we believe in states' rights and responsibilities
as the laboratories of democracy.

7. Solve the Problem through the Free Market and Protection of Property
Rights

To help ensure competitiveness, climate policy should provide: (1) a
stable, long-term, substantial research and development program; (2)
long-term regulatory certainty, and; (3) a robust price signal that
reflects the true social cost of greenhouse gas pollution.

8. Start Now and Solve the Problem in the Most Cost-Effective,
Least-Disruptive Way Possible

Significant reductions in global warming pollution should start sooner
rather than later in order to minimize disruption to the economy, and to
avoid the necessity of drastic, steep reductions in the future.

9. Lead by Example

Regardless of whether all nations agree to be part of the solution,
America must do the right thing.

10. Learn from the Future

Our understanding will continue to grow, and we may find that we must
accelerate steps that address climate change.

Principles for Federal Policy on Global Warming is posted at
www.ChristiansAndClimate.org.

The Evangelical Climate Initiative is more than 100 evangelical leaders
who are-as a result of their commitment to Jesus Christ and concern for
His creation-encouraging action by evangelical Christians and all
Americans to make life changes necessary to help solve the global
warming crisis and to advance public policy that will limit global
warming pollution, while respecting economic and business concerns.

Media Note: To interview Rev. Jim Ball or other signatories of the
Evangelical Climate Initiative, contact Debbie Payton (678) 541-0750 -
office, or (404) 245-8500 - cell, or

dpayton@RooftopMediaWorks.com

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Evangelical Climate Initiative

Washington, D.C. 680 I Street SW, Washington, D.C. / Atlanta 4485 Tench
Road, Suite 850, Suwanee, Georgia 30024