1031.
BOOK OF RESOLUTIONS
about 280 parts per million by volume (ppmv), and current levels are about 370 ppmv.9 The concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere today has not been exceeded in the last 420,000 years <http:// www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/carbdiox.html>, and likely not in the last 20 million years.10 According to the IPCC Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES), by the end of the 21st century, we could expect to see carbon dioxide concentrations of anywhere from 490 to 1260 ppmv (75-350 percent above the pre-industrial concentration);11 and Whereas, such an increase in future carbon dioxide concentration is very likely to cause significant warming of the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s climate, resulting in a variety of changes.12 Scientists have observed some changes already occurring, including: sea level rise, shrinking glaciers, changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals, trees blooming earlier, lengthening of growing seasons, ice on rivers and lakes freezing later and breaking up earlier, and thawing of permafrost.13 Some of these changes, and other changes not mentioned, may have significant detrimental impacts upon human populations in the future; and unfortunately, many of the impacts may occur in nations with the least ability to adapt, given the economic and social challenges within those nations. Now therefore, be it resolved, that as a global church community, we call on our members to reduce human-related outputs of greenhouse gases; Be it further resolved, that members should make an effort to learn about human production and release of greenhouse gases and evaluate their own lifestyles to identify areas where reductions in production and release of greenhouse gases can be made. There are many informative resources for learning how one can reduce his/her greenhouse-gas impact; Be it further resolved, that members should also work to make their own congregations more aware of the issue of global warming 9. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Global Warming: Frequently Asked Questions, February 2006. <http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html#Q1> 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid. 12. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis: Summary for Policymakers, 2007. http://www.ipcc.ch/ SPM2feb07.pdf 13. US Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change: Basic Information, December 2006. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html> 94
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