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DALLAS (AP) — A conservative group of 140 scientists, economists and faith leaders are warning that policies to combat climate change could needlessly hurt the poor.
The signed declaration, released by the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, warns that mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide emissions would likely have minimal impact on global temperatures while making it more difficult for people in developing nations to get access to basic electricity and transportation.
It also argues that natural cycles outweigh human influences in climate change, and declares that "rising atmospheric CO2 benefits all life on Earth by improving plant growth and crop yields, making food more abundant and affordable, helping the poor most of all."
The declaration calls for caution as more than 120 world leaders prepare to convene the United Nations Climate Summit, and urges Christians to care for creation out of love for God and their neighbors.
Some evangelical groups favor efforts to control climate change.
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221-v-33-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)--More than 140 Scientists, economists and faith leaders have signed a declaration warning that policies to combat climate change could do more harm than good. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (22 Sep 2014)
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222-a-11-(Calvin Beisner (BYZ'-nur), founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, in AP interview)-"in the world"-Calvin Beisner, founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, says proposals to combat climate change may be both ineffective and harmful. (22 Sep 2014)
<<CUT *222 (09/22/14)££ 00:11 "in the world"
223-a-05-(Calvin Beisner (BYZ'-nur), founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, in AP interview)-"out of poverty"-Calvin Beisner, founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, says that for the world's poor, fossil fuels are abundant, affordable and reliable. (22 Sep 2014)
<<CUT *223 (09/22/14)££ 00:05 "out of poverty"
224-a-14-(Calvin Beisner (BYZ'-nur), founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, in AP interview)-"fight environmental problems"-Calvin Beisner, founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, says the Bible's call to love our neighbor should make us careful about limiting poor people's access to fossil fuels. (22 Sep 2014)
<<CUT *224 (09/22/14)££ 00:14 "fight environmental problems"
225-a-11-(Calvin Beisner (BYZ'-nur), founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, in AP interview)-"than colder periods"-Calvin Beisner, founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, says climate change may be neither human-caused nor catastrophic. (22 Sep 2014)
<<CUT *225 (09/22/14)££ 00:11 "than colder periods"
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