Submitted by the Philadelphia Ethical Society and Passed at the 99th AEU Assembly

Whereas, climate change disproportionately harms poor and disempowered populations; and

Whereas, dramatic flooding resulting from Arctic polar and other glacial melting are caused by climate change; and

Whereas, the rapid disappearance of Arctic ice is threatening the extinction of wildlife depending on the ice for hunting and other purposes; and

Whereas, sea level rise and warming temperatures are threatening the existence of native cultures; and

Whereas, increased intensity of hurricanes, typhoons and droughts are attributed to climate change; and

Whereas, melting polar ice has caused organisms once locked in ice to be unleashed, causing illness and death among sea and land mammals who frequent Arctic waters; and

Whereas, the permafrost of the Arctic tundra is melting and releasing increasing amounts of methane gas, a serious contributor to climate change; and

Whereas, rising global temperatures are threatening the disappearance of coral reefs; and

Whereas, increasing global temperatures are threatening forests due to invasive species, thereby causing more warming of the planet; and

Whereas, the scientific community warns of dire and irreversible consequences to our planet with continued use of fossil fuels; and

Whereas, the extraction, transport, and burning of fossil fuels have proven hazardous to human health and safety; and

Whereas, the primary force behind human-caused climate change is the use of fossil-based sources of energy; and

Whereas, many fossil-based companies are public or otherwise amenable to interest in share holding by the public.

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, the American Ethical Union shall divest itself of any investments in businesses that have a primary purpose of the extraction or distribution of fossil-based sources of energy, and instead, shift its investment dollars to funds and businesses that support the exploration, development, and use of clean, sustainable, renewable sources of energy; and we urge the Societies, their affiliated organizations, and their respective individual members to do the same.

Be It Further Resolved, a copy of this Resolution be sent to the appropriate media outlets and corporate and governmental offices to enlist wide support in our effort to address the scourge of climate change.