June 5, 2008
Dear Senator:
On behalf of the millions of members and supporters of our development, faith-based, environmental, and other organizations, we are writing to express our support for the amendment being offered by Senators Menendez and Snowe, S. Amdt. 4865, to S. 3036, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.
The amendment would increase allowances provided to the International Climate Change Adaptation and National Security Program between 2012 and 2017. The amendment would do so by reallocating 0.5% of the bill’s allowances that would be given as a windfall to major oil company refineries.
Developing countries will be the hardest hit by the increasingly devastating impacts of climate change, such as drought, floods, and increased disease. The resulting consequences include instability and threats to national and global security from migration and refugee crises, conflicts over natural resources, degraded ecosystems, and economic destabilization. According to the UN Development Program, developing countries will need more than $80 billion annually to cope with these impacts of climate change.
The International Climate Change Adaptation and National Security Program would provide critically needed support to vulnerable communities in poor countries to build their resilience to these climate change impacts.
The failure to act to assist vulnerable countries now will lead to even greater costs later to address impacts such as flooding, famine, and insecurity caused by refugee crises and natural resource conflicts. Efforts to help vulnerable communities adapt to the serious impacts of climate change are therefore critical in the near term. It is vital to increase support for this program before 2018.
Providing this support will also help to build international consensus on climate change by engaging developing countries for whom adapting to climate impacts is a key concern.
The Menendez–Snowe amendment would increase the percentage of the bill’s allowances allocated to the International Climate Change Adaptation and National Security Program by 0.5% in the period 2012-2017. This increase would be provided by reallocating the percentage of allowances given to major oil company refineries. A description of the amendment is attached.
We urge you to support the Menendez–Snowe amendment, S. Amdt. 4865.
Sincerely,
ActionAid USA
Audubon
Bread for the World
CARE USA
Earthjustice
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth U.S.
Interfaith Power and Light
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
League of Women Voters of the United States
Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Washington Office
Natural Resources Defense Council
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
National Peace Corps Association
National Wildlife Federation
Oxfam America
Pew Environment Group
Progressive National Baptist Convention
Sierra Club
Sisters of Mercy of Americas Institute Justice Team
Union of Concerned Scientists
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Virginia Interfaith Center
World Wildlife Fund
