Obama Hosts Des Moines Forum to Highlight Role of Faith in Fighting Global Climate Change

Des Moines, IA | October 14, 2007

Des Moines, IA -- Senator Barack Obama today hosted an inter-faith forum at the Des Moines Public Library and talked about how his own Christian beliefs influence his commitment to fighting global climate change.

"The Bible tells us that when God created the Earth, he entrusted us with the responsibility to take care of that Earth - to exercise stewardship over His creation," Obama said. "We are not living up to this responsibility when we continue to pollute the air even though we know that it causes almost a third of all childhood asthma cases in this country. We are not acting as good stewards of God's Earth when our bottom line puts the size of our profits before the future of our planet."

Last week, Obama laid out an aggressive plan to combat global climate change that includes a hard cap on all carbon emissions at a level that scientists say is necessary to curb global warming - an 80% reduction by 2050. The revenue from Obama's cap-and-trade proposal would invest $150 billion over ten years in clean, renewable energy like ethanol, biomass, solar, and wind power. Obama also vowed to challenge businesses, government, and the American people to set a goal of making America 50% more energy efficient by 2030.

"Meeting the threat of global climate change will not happen easily or overnight. It's a challenge that will take time, a challenge that will take sacrifice, and a challenge that will take something more than just the right policies themselves," said Obama. "Solving this challenge also requires faith. Not a blind faith or a faith of mere words, but an active faith. It's a faith that doesn't look at the hardship and pain and suffering in the world and use it all as an excuse for inaction or cynicism, but one that accepts the fact that while we're not going to solve every problem, here on Earth we can make a difference."

During the first three weeks of September, Obama campaign staff and religious leaders from across America hosted faith forums with Iowans in 14 communities where they discussed the role of faith in politics and public service. Some of the forums included Father Michael Pfleger, priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Pastor Brian McLaren, one of Time Magazine's top 25 most influential evangelicals this year.