Evangelists Call for Political Action on Climate Change in Florida

A group of Evangelical Christians in Florida are trying to convince Governor Rick Scott to create an adaptive plan to address and prepare for the effects of climate change, claiming that they believe they can reach out to him with a common understanding about of Christian values.

The Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) is currently collecting signatures from Florida residents for a petition that they hope will convince Gov. Scott that climate change in the state is a pressing issue that must be addressed. The petition has already garnered more than 12,000 signatures, according to ThinkProgress and is gaining more attention as it circulates among Christians and environmental activists alike.

Rev. Mitch Hescox, president of EEN, told ThinkProgress he thinks that while the Governor has been hesitant to acknowledge the adverse effects of climate change in the past, their shared faith gives the Evangelical community a strong means to help Scott see things from their perspective.

"We're hoping that with his values and his understanding of scripture, that helping him to understand climate change in a way that uses the values that he and I probably share - more conservative, pro-life values - will help him understand climate change is a real and very big threat to Florida," Hescox explained.

According to Hescox, there is plenty of evidence in the Bible and other religious text that it is the duty of Christians to take care of the world they live in, because God created the Earth to sustain all life that he created. If Christians neglect the Earth and allow its ability to support life falter, they are failing to do their duty as God's servants.

Hescox also noted that past air pollution reports - tied to causes of climate change - detail how the poor are the worst effected by poor air quality. Many Christians believe it is a holy duty to help the poor however they can.

Unfortunately for EEN, even with his religious ties to the group, Scott will take some convincing. Scott has been avoiding questions concerning his stance on climate change following the release of the 2014 National Climate Assessment report - which details how Florida is facing stronger storm surges and rising sea levels.

"I'm not a scientist," he told reporters following a Cabinet Meeting earlier this month. The governor went on to say that he will do everything he can do to protect the environment, but did not acknowledge that climate change is affecting his state.