Paris Climate Agreement

In March of 2017 the Dominican Sisters Conference published a Public Statement on the Executive Order Rolling Back the Clean Power Plan. Today we are appalled by President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement. This is politically, economically, and morally indefensible. Moreover, this diminishes our standing as a world leader, aligning us with Syria and Nicaragua as the only non-signatories to the landmark accord signed in December 2015 by 195 nations.

We continue to stand with scientists and spiritual leaders of all faiths. We commend those companies, cities, and states that have promised to uphold the commitment to the Paris Accord despite the President’s decision. We stand with Pope Francis who has outlined our moral imperative in his document Laudato Si, along with the U.S. Bishops who said, “The common good calls us to extend our concern to future generations.” Climate change poses the question, “What does our generation owe to generations yet unborn?” Even Exxon Mobil welcomed the Paris accord as “an effective framework for addressing the risks of climate change.”

We, the Dominican Sisters Conference, will continue to move forward, with those who are committed to creating a “new and universal solidarity” that Pope Francis calls for, and “cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation.” (Laudato Si,14)