Motor Vehicles, Oil Dependence and Environmental Protection (2002)

WHEREAS all bodies of the conservative movement, in consonance with the Jewish concern in safeguarding environmental health, have long been, on record in warning of the danger of air pollution, urging public and private energy conservation and pointing out our undue dependence on Persian Gulf oil sources, and

WHEREAS the United States currently imports about one seventh of all oil produced in the world, one fourth of which comes from Persian Gulf nations and

WHEREAS, reliance on these sources is problematic, availability and prices being subject to political manipulation and the threat of terror, and cultivation of these sources has had an undue influence on our foreign policy, and

WHEREAS fully forty percent of the oil that Americans consume is for personal transportation and in, this past year, more than half of the motor vehicles sold in the United States consisted of light trucks, mini?vans and suburban utility vehicles all of which have low mileage per gallon and therefore utilize more oil; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Government could require greater fuel efficiency from the auto industry and few states have adopted improved emission standards,

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the United Synagogue call upon the members of its affiliated congregations to urge the federal government, local governments to adopt measures to promote the utilization of existing and emerging motor vehicle technologies in order to increase energy efficiency, lower pollution and reduce US dependence on imported oil.