GC32 Depletion of the Earth’s Ozone Layer

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 2nd General Council of The United Church of Canada:

1. commend the Government of Canada for the existing legislation which prohibits the use of CFCs in certain aerosols (hair sprays, deodorants and anti-perspirants) and that through writing such legislation be extended to ban CFC propellants in all aerosols and to introduce legislation that would eliminate the use of CFCs in food packaging materials;

2. urge members, pastoral charges, presbyteries and conferences to discontinue the use of those CFC blown foam products that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer;

3. urge members of The United Church of Canada to encourage their local supermarkets and fast food chains to discontinue the use of food packagings that use CF Cs in their production, e.g.:, egg cartons, foam meat trays, fast food containers;

4. encourage industry to cooperate in phasing out the use of materials that use CF Cs in their production and to intensify efforts to find environmentally safe chemicals as substitutes for CFCs in situations where appropriate alternatives do not yet exist;

5. endorse the action of the General Council Executive of November 1987 as reflected in the pamphlet The Earth is the Lord 's and the Fullness Thereof (available from the Department of Stewardship Services) and commend this resource to all levels and members of the church;

6. encourage all conferences, presbyteries and pastoral charges to study, promote and act upon the information provided in the above and other sources (e.g. the report of Stewardship Services);

7. urge presbyteries and pastoral charges to encourage local communities and governments to provide safe disposal for coolants and encourage industry in developing recycling programs for coolant materials;

8. encourage the conferences through the applicable committees to provide resources and practical guidelines on these concerns for use in pastoral charges;

9. encourage pastoral charges to work ecumenically on this issue.

1988 ROP, p. 171