Amended in Senate July 14, 2015

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 begin delete change; end delete begin insert change and
caring for the earth as our common home; end insert and

WHEREAS, A Papal encyclical is begin delete a “letter” to bishops and end delete
considered the highest begin insert level of end insert teaching of a begin delete pope; end delete begin insert pope on faith
and morals; end insert 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 begin insert the dominion of the planet
and end insert the intensive use of fossil begin delete fuels, which is at the heart of the
worldwide end delete begin insert fuels while failing to accept moral responsibility for
the degrading global consequences of an unsustainable end insert energy
system; and

WHEREAS, Pope Francis sees an urgent need begin insert for a robust
dialogue that includes the voices of all, especially those most
marginalized, end insert 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

begin delete

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

end delete begin insert

WHEREAS, Pope Francis states, “We are faced not with two
separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather
with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.
Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to
combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the
same time protecting nature”; and

end insert

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.