Dear Climate-Careful Friends—

Please step right up to "Step It Up!" Climate change is the most serious threat of our time, and action is needed now. We all have to pitch in—in the short time we have left. "Step it up America! Step it up Congress!"

One part of the great push to step it up emerged in January from a first-of-its-kind collaboration between evangelical leaders and key U. S. scientists—a collaboration that will continue on into the coming months as we join together to get action.

The coalition’s "Urgent Call to Action" urged "fundamental change in values, lifestyles, and public policies required to address these worsening problems before it is too late."

"Business as usual cannot continue yet one more day," it said, and pledged to "work together toward a responsible care for Creation and call with one voice" to the religious, scientific, business, political and educational arenas—to join them in this great historic initiative.

So Step it Up, Congress! "There is no such thing as a Republican or Democrat, a liberal or conservative, a religious or secular environment."

"We all breathe the same air and drink the same water. Scientists and evangelicals share a deep moral commitment to preserve this precious gift we have all been given," said Dr. Eric Chivian, Nobel laureate and Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.

"Great scientists are people of imagination. So are people of great faith. We dare to imagine a world in which science and religion work together to reverse the degradation of Creation. We will not allow it to be progressively destroyed by human folly," added Rev. Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals.

"If current deterioration of the environment by human activity continues unabated, best estimates are that half of Earth's surviving species of plants and animals will be extinguished or critically endangered by the end of the century. The price for future generations will be paid in economic opportunity, environmental security, and spiritual fulfillment. The saving of the living environment is therefore an issue appropriately addressed jointly by science and religion," said Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Edward O. Wilson.

One of the imperatives of the group is to STEP UP the dialogue and influence policy in regards to global warming. "In order to avoid clear and substantial dangers...it will be necessary to substantially reduce CO2 emissions during the next few decades, and perhaps by 80 percent or more before the end of the century," said Dr. James Hansen, the leading U.S. climate change scientist.

The coalition vowed to expand their collaboration and encourage action from all sectors of society. "We are glad to be partnering with our friends in the scientific community. They have the facts we need to present to our congregations; we have the numbers of activists that will work through churches, government, and the business community to make a significant impact," said Dr. Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland Church in Orlando, Florida.

This unique collaboration with leaders from the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School and the National Association of Evangelicals began last November 30 to December 2nd in Georgia where the group agreed that science proves that the natural world is imperiled by human behaviors and policies, particularly by the unsustainable burning of fossil fuels and degradation of living systems.

They decided to embark on a continuing collaboration and authored the "Urgent Call to Action" statement. (Click here for more details).

So, I am pleased to join you in taking one spring day and use it to reshape the future. Science is on our side; and the deep ethical and moral fabric of America is on our side.

We now need a movement—one that will produce the largest rally ever to address—seriously and NOW—the great emerging crisis of global warming and climate change!

----Calvin B. DeWitt,