Report on Faith-Based Advocacy for Sustainable Energy Policies in Arizona

Introduction: Aligning State Policy with Sustainable Development Goals

A non-partisan, faith-based women’s group in Arizona, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG), is advocating for the continuation of state-level energy efficiency and rooftop solar programs. This initiative directly confronts a proposal by the state’s utility commission to eliminate these long-standing mandates. The group’s actions highlight a critical intersection of civil society engagement, environmental stewardship, and the pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning energy, climate, and inequality.

Policy Dispute and Implications for SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The core of the issue lies in a proposal by Arizona’s five-member utility commission to dismantle established energy policies. This action poses a direct challenge to the principles of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

• Proposed Policy Reversal: The commission is considering scrapping mandates for energy efficiency and incentives for rooftop solar installations.
• Commission’s Rationale: Arguments from commissioners suggest the programs are ineffective, outdated, or constitute unjust fees for utility customers.
• Evidence of Efficacy: Conversely, utility and government data indicate the mandates have successfully reduced overall energy consumption and lowered electricity bills, aligning with SDG 7’s targets for energy efficiency and affordability.

Advocacy for Climate Action and Social Equity: A Focus on SDG 10 and SDG 13

MWEG’s opposition is rooted in principles of environmental stewardship and social justice, reflecting a commitment to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

1. Climate Change Mitigation: The group argues that maintaining energy efficiency standards is a rapid and effective method to reduce emissions and address the climate crisis, a central goal of SDG 13.
2. Protecting Vulnerable Populations: MWEG emphasizes that the negative impacts of climate change and air pollution disproportionately affect lower-income and socially vulnerable communities. Their advocacy aims to protect these groups, supporting the objective of SDG 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries.
3. Future Energy Security: With Arizona’s power requirements projected to increase by up to 40% in the next 15 years, MWEG warns that repealing these rules could compromise the state’s ability to meet future energy demands responsibly, impacting progress towards SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

The Role of Civil Society and Faith-Based Organizations in Achieving the SDGs

The MWEG initiative serves as a case study for the role of non-state actors in promoting sustainable development, as envisioned in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Non-Partisan Engagement: MWEG operates as a non-partisan entity with a politically diverse membership (40% Republican, 36% Independent, 24% Democrat), demonstrating a capacity to transcend political divides to advocate for ethical governance and sustainable policy.
• Mission and Principles: The organization’s mission is to “inspire women of faith to be ambassadors of peace who transcend partisanship.” They promote church teachings related to environmental stewardship, advocating for effective policies that care for the environment and its inhabitants.
• Broader Trend: This local action is part of a growing national trend, tracked by organizations like America is All In, where faith groups are increasingly endorsing and participating in climate action, providing a moral and ethical framework for achieving the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues that directly and indirectly connect to a range of Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus on energy policy, climate change, and social equity brings the following SDGs into relevance:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The core of the article revolves around the debate over Arizona’s energy efficiency mandates and rooftop solar incentives. This directly addresses the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The advocacy by the Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is explicitly framed as a response to the “reality of climate change.” Their efforts to promote clean energy and conservation are aimed at mitigating climate change, which is the central theme of SDG 13.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article explicitly states that “lower-income populations and socially vulnerable groups suffer worse from air pollution and climate change.” By advocating for policies that reduce pollution and lower energy costs, the group is addressing the disproportionate impact of environmental issues on vulnerable populations, which is a key aspect of reducing inequalities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The discussion of air pollution’s impact on vulnerable groups is relevant to making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Clean energy policies are crucial for improving air quality in cities like Phoenix, where the story is set.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The emphasis on energy efficiency standards and conservation directly relates to ensuring sustainable consumption patterns. The article notes that existing mandates have “significantly reduced energy consumption,” which is a core principle of SDG 12.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific actions and concerns discussed in the article, several SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The group’s call to maintain “rooftop solar incentives” is a direct effort to increase the share of renewable energy (solar) in Arizona’s energy mix.
   • Target 7.3: “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.” The central conflict in the article is the potential scrapping of “long-standing energy efficiency mandates.” The MWEG’s opposition to this move is an explicit push to maintain and strengthen policies that improve energy efficiency.
   • Target 7.1: “By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.” A member’s quote, “I also want to bring my bills down,” and the evidence that mandates have “lowered electricity bills for all ratepayers” connect directly to the goal of ensuring energy is affordable.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The entire article is about a debate at the state policy level, where the MWEG advocates for keeping energy efficiency and solar programs as part of the state’s utility regulations to “mitigate climate change.”
3. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…” The article’s reference to research showing that “lower-income populations and socially vulnerable groups suffer worse from air pollution and climate change” highlights an inequality. The group’s advocacy for cleaner energy can be seen as an effort to create policies that protect these vulnerable groups, thereby promoting more equitable outcomes.
4. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality…” The concern about air pollution affecting vulnerable populations is a direct link to this target, as energy efficiency and clean energy are primary methods for improving urban air quality.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 7.2 (Renewable Energy): The article implies progress can be measured by the number of solar installations. It mentions the desire for neighbors to “afford solar” and cites a church publication that “touted 500 meetinghouses with ‘solar initiatives’.” This suggests that the uptake of solar technology is a key metric.
• Indicator for Target 7.3 (Energy Efficiency): The article directly points to reduction in energy consumption as a key indicator. It states that “utility and government data… shows the mandates have significantly reduced energy consumption.” This is a direct measure of the effectiveness of energy efficiency policies.
• Indicator for Target 7.1 (Affordable Energy): The cost of electricity bills for consumers is an explicit indicator. The article notes that the efficiency programs have “lowered electricity bills for all ratepayers,” and a member’s personal goal is to “bring my bills down.”
• Indicator for Target 13.2 (Climate Policy): The existence and status of state-level policies and mandates for energy efficiency and renewables serve as a crucial indicator. The entire article is centered on the debate over whether to “scrap long-standing energy efficiency mandates and rooftop solar incentives.”
• Indicator for Targets 10.2 and 11.6 (Inequality and Urban Impact): The article implies the use of disaggregated data on the health and economic impacts of pollution. It refers to “research that shows lower-income populations and socially vulnerable groups suffer worse from air pollution and climate change,” indicating that tracking these differential impacts is a way to measure whether inequalities are being addressed.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: 12news.com