Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and the State Legislature passed a state budget for the commonwealth but, as part of the negotiation process, removed Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, also known as RGGI. RGGI is a cap-and-invest program that lowers harmful emissions of carbon pollution and creates family-sustaining careers by building out affordable clean energy in Pennsylvania. RGGI was estimated to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue for Pennsylvania to reinvest in our communities. Over the last two years, over 80,000 pro-life evangelical Christians urged Governor Shapiro to support Pennsylvania reaffirming its commitment to RGGI. According to 2020 polling, 72% of Pennsylvanians support RGGI, particularly because it would create thousands of family-sustaining careers and ensure a safe and healthy future for generations to come.

In response, Carolyn Heckman, EEN Action’s Associate Director of Pennsylvania Policy, shared: 

“As evangelical Christians committed to defending life from all harms, we cannot turn a blind eye to toxic fossil fuel pollution that makes our air unsafe to breathe and water unsafe to drink. Unfortunately, the decision by Pennsylvania’s Governor and state policy makers to take Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) means more Pennsylvanian children will be exposed to harmful pollution and suffer the effects, including increased risk of asthma, autism, ADHD, and other health harms. Medical research is clear that fossil fuel pollution is a top environmental threat to the health of our children and other vulnerable Pennsylvanians. While we commend the Governor and State Legislature for passing this much-needed budget, their work must not stop there. We call on our leaders to continue to come together and work diligently to implement a market-based, cap-and-invest program that will deliver clean air, clean water, and new careers to Pennsylvania for generations. Our children’s health and future depend on it.”