Senate Resolution No. 37

Introduced by Senator De León

June 29, 2015

Senate Resolution No. 37—Relative to public resources.

WHEREAS, Pope Francis is a global defender of the poor and
all victims of injustice, including those suffering the devastating
impacts of climate change; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis, the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics
worldwide, released a Papal encyclical on June 18, 2015, in which
he issues a clarion call to action on climate change; and

WHEREAS, A Papal encyclical is a “letter” to bishops and
considered the highest teaching of a pope; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis in his Papal encyclical recognizes
that reversing global warming, halting the depletion of our
resources, and combating environmental degradation falls upon
us all: government, the private sector, and individuals; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis declares that the climate “is a
common good, belonging to us all”; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis states that a solid scientific consensus
indicates a disturbing warming of the climate, accompanied by
rising sea levels and extreme weather events, even if a scientifically
determined cause cannot be attributed to each phenomenon; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis states that the problem is aggravated
by a model of development based on the intensive use of fossil
fuels, which is at the heart of the worldwide energy system; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis sees an urgent need to develop
policies so that in the near future the emission of carbon dioxide
and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced by
finding alternatives to fossil fuels and developing sources of
renewable energy; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis warns that the exploitation of the
planet has already exceeded acceptable limits while the problem
of poverty remains unsolved, and that “doomsday predictions can
no longer be met with irony or disdain”; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis states everyday experience and
scientific research show that the gravest effects of all attacks on
the environment are suffered by the poorest; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis states that a true ecological approach
must integrate questions of social and environmental justice in
debates on the environment, “so as to hear both the cry of the Earth
and the cry of the poor”; and

WHEREAS, California has already begun to incorporate
questions of social and environmental justice in its approach to
climate control, focusing resources to combat environmental
degradation in California’s poorest communities; and

WHEREAS, The California Legislature recognizes the alarming
rate of global warming caused by fossil fuels and the urgent need
to continue to work toward a low-carbon economy, while fighting
environmental degradation in our poorest communities and
increasing their access to cleaner energy; and

WHEREAS, California is home to more Catholics than any
other state in the nation with nearly one in three residents who
self-identify as Christians being Catholic; and

WHEREAS, the Papal encyclical is anticipated to be not only
of great importance in parishes throughout California, the nation,
and world, but it is also expected to have significant political
ramifications; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That members
of the Legislature review and take into account the Papal encyclical
on climate change in relevant legislative actions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Governor and executive branch of state
government consider the implications of the Papal encyclical and
climate change in their policy and fiscal actions to prevent further
environmental degradation; and be it further

Resolved, That appropriate policy committees of the Legislature
convene hearings to consider the policy implications of the Papal
encyclical and seek testimony from religious leaders, state officials,
environmental organizations, business groups, and the general
public; and be it further

Resolved, That the United States Congress and President Obama
consider the implications of the Papal encyclical and climate
change in their policy and fiscal actions to prevent further
environmental degradation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.