Hugo Séguin, Fellow at the Center for International Research and Study of the Université de Montréal

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1 Hugo Séguin, Fellow at the Center for International Research and Study of the Université de Montréal Christopher P. Borick, Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion Robin L. Quirke, Associate Researcher at PolicyInteractive Courtney Johnson, Staff Attorney at Crag Law Center

2 Americans love Jesus, Lincoln, and themselves Public Opinion Polling (N = 800) Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Favorable 100% 90% 80% 70% 93% 91% 90% 86% 83% 74% 67% 64% 64% 62% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

3 Hugo Séguin Fellow at the Center for International Research and Study of the Université de Montréal

4 American Perceptions of Climate Change: Religious and Moral Dimensions Christopher Borick Muhlenberg College 2018 PIELC CONFERENCE

5 Robin Quirke Is it morally sound to use air travel?

6 Moral Beliefs Survey Sample size = 545 American English-speakers Political Party Republican: 38% (n = 207) Democrat: 41.3% (n = 225)

7 All participants were exposed to the following definition: Moral values refer to a set of principles that guide an individual on how to evaluate right versus wrong. An individual with high moral values typically displays characteristics of integrity, courage, respect, fairness, honesty and compassion.

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9 All participants were also exposed to the following language: Thinking about what you know of the teachings of Jesus as an example of moral guidelines, regardless of your beliefs, which of the following do you think Jesus would support if he were living among us today?

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11 Comparing Republicans and Democrats

12 Morally acceptable or morally wrong? What do you think?

13 U.S. military using weapons on people in other countries (Republican n = 207; Democrat n = 225) 60% Republican Democrat R: 37% Wrong D: 81% Wrong 50% 44.4% 40% 36.7% 36.4% 30% 20% 26.1% 15.6% 21.7% 15.5% 10% 3.6% 0% 1- Morally Acceptable Morally Wrong

14 Foreign military using weapons on people in U.S. (Republican n = 207; Democrat n = 225) 60% Republican Democrat R: 77% Wrong (+40%) D: 92% Wrong (+11%) 54.2% 50% 46.4% 40% 37.8% 30% 30.4% 20% 10% 0% 8.7% 0.4% 1- Morally Acceptable 14.5% 7.6% Morally Wrong

15 Morally acceptable or morally wrong? What would Jesus think?

16 Would Jesus support: U.S. military using weapons on people in other countries (Republican n = 207; Democrat n = 225) Republican Democrat 100% 90% 80% Jesus would think? R: 72% Not support D: 89% No support 84.4% 70% 60% 57.5% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 7.7% 1.3% 13.0% 14.5% 4.0% 4.4% 7.2% 5.8% 0% 1- Yes, would support No, would NOT support I truly don't know

17 Would Jesus support: Foreign military using weapons on people in U.S. (Republican n = 207; Democrat n = 225) 100% Republican Democrat Jesus would think? R: 85% Not support (+13%) D: 90% No support (+1%) 90% 86.2% 80% 70% 69.1% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 15.9% 3.4% 4.8% 0.9% 2.7% 4.0% 1- Yes, would support No, would NOT support 6.8% 6.2% I truly don't know

18 Morally acceptable or morally wrong? What do you think?

19 Why ask about air travel?

20 Carbon Budget (1000 gigatons CO 2 ) If everyone were allotted 2 Mt/yr = 66 years left If everyone were allotted 16.5 Mt/yr = 8 years left Allocating a 2 C cumulative carbon budget to countries Renaud Gignac and H Damon Matthews 2015 Environ. Res. Lett doi: / /10/7/075004

21 If emissions had been shared equally from the beginning, the U.S. used up their share in (calculated by ClimateInteractive.org)

22 Is air travel a significant contributor of GHG emissions?

23 Global CO 2 emissions (per capita; annual) World Bank, 2014 CO 2 emissions in metric tons World U.S. Iceland India Kiribati RT PDX Greece RT PDX Hawai'i RT PDX DC

24 CO 2 emissions in metric tons Global CO 2 emissions (per capita; annual) World Bank, 2014 Cool Climate Calculator, World U.S. Iceland India Kiribati RT PDX Greece RT PDX Hawai'i RT PDX DC

25 Morally acceptable or morally wrong? What do you think?

26 Using air travel for vacations (N = 545) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 70.0% 56.9% Republicans 17.9% 27.1% Democrats R: 12% Wrong D: 16% Wrong 5.3% 7.1% 6.8% 8.9% 0% 1- Morally Acceptable Morally Wrong

27 Driving, even when biking, walking, or bussing are possible (N = 543) Republicans Democrats 80% 70% 60% 50% 61.8% 51.6% R: 7% Wrong D: 12% Wrong 40% 30% 36.0% 30.9% 20% 10% 0% 1- Morally Acceptable 11.6% 4.3% 2.9% 0.9% Morally Wrong

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29 Morally acceptable or morally wrong? What would Jesus think?

30 Would Jesus support: Using air travel for vacations (N = 545) 80% 70% 60% Republican Democrat Jesus would think? R: 23% Not support D: 31% Not support 50% 40% 43.0% 30% 20% 10% 24.4% 18.4% 22.2% 12.4% 8.2% 22.7% 18.2% 15.0% 15.5% 0% 1- Yes, would support No, would NOT support I truly don't know

31 Would Jesus support: Driving, even when biking, walking, or bussing are possible (N = 545) 80% 70% 60% 50% Republican Democrat Jesus would think? R: 24% Not support D: 47% Not support (+16%) 40% 30% 20% 10% 30.0% 10.7% 26.1% 19.6% 11.1% 26.2% 13.0% 20.9% 22.7% 19.8% 0% 1- Yes, would support No, would NOT support I truly don't know

32 Air travel: The environmentalist s Achilles heel? Survey from November 2015

33 Air travel for last year (Achilles heel?) Pro-environmental N = 263, General public N = 240; Nov. 2015) 60% 54% Pro-environmental General Public 50% 40% 36% 30% 20% 10% 0% 21% 18% 16% 13% 14% 10% 6% 5% 3% 2% 0% 1% None < 2 hours 5 hours 10 hours 25 hours 50 hours 100 hours

34 95 Pro-environmental and 130 General public did not fly in the last year. What is the reason you did not fly? No desire 33% 35% No opp/ No $ 50% 53% Keep CO2 small 3% 7% Frugal 11% 9% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Pro-environmental General Public

35 Is it morally sound to use air travel?

36 Take an honest look in the mirror. $ Remember to share.

37 Lawyers Ethics and Climate Change Courtney Johnson 3 7

38 Professional Ethics Duties are to clients Zealous advocacy Oregon RPC 2.1 Advisor: oin representing a client, a lawyer shall exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice. In rendering advice, a lawyer may refer not only to law but to other considerations such as moral, economic, social and political factors, that may be relevant to the client s situation.

39 Sustainable Future Section Mission: The Sustainable Future Section supports sustainability within the Oregon legal profession and the practice of law through: 1. Educational programs, 2. Examination of the integration of law and sustainability, and 3. Dialogue about the needs and interests of future generations. Activities: Newsletter, Programs, Awards, Study Groups, Task Force, Community Activities 3 9

40 Oregon Bar Bylaw Article 26 Sustainability: o The Bar supports the goal of sustainability, generally defined as meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.... o In the practice of law, principles of sustainability may be important in addressing competing economic, social and environmental priorities that impact future generations. othe Bar will encourage education and dialogue on how law impacts the needs and interests of future generations

41 Climate Change Task Force Recommendations 1. Issue a statement supporting carbon pricing 2. Provide legal support for climate change legislation 3. Encourage lawyers and law firms to reduce their carbon footprint 4. Amend the Oregon constitution to include a specific reference to the State s duty to hold all natural resources in trust for future generations 5. Revise investment guidelines 4 1