wfn.org | Kyoto Climate Summit

[Sheila MESA <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
26 November 1997

GREED THREATENS CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS
CLAIMS CHURCH OFFICIAL

"The greed of certain rich industries and countries that are heavily
dependent on fossil fuels risks destroying any chance for an effective
treaty to address the worldwide problem of climate change", says an
official of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on the eve of the UN
Climate Summit in Kyoto.

"People and other species are already suffering from the impact of
human-caused climate change in vulnerable areas such as the Pacific
Islands, sub-Saharan Africa and low coastal regions",  maintains Dr
David G. Hallman, Climate Change Programme Coordinator for the WCC. 
"Such suffering is going to be much more widespread around the world
and in the future unless we rapidly change our value systems and put
the life and well-being of the many above the profits and luxury of the
few", says Dr Hallman.

The United States, Japan, Canada and a number of other industrialised
countries are bringing weak proposals to the Kyoto meeting which,
according to Hallman and other observers, would have little impact on
limiting the pollution that is leading to climate change.  The European Union
has a more ambitious plan but all proposals fall short of that put forward
several years ago by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) for a
20% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by rich countries from 1990
levels by 2005.  Member states of AOSIS fear that their entire countries
could be destroyed by a rise in the sea level and increased tropical storm
activity.

Hallman points out that whilst some industrial sectors would be hurt by a
reduction in fossil fuel use, many studies show that industrial economies
as a whole as well as the environment would benefit greatly from the
more efficient use of energy and the development of renewable
alternative fuels.  The studies also point to a net increase in employment
if such policies were followed.

The WCC has been active in raising the ethical dimensions of climate
change for ten years.  Recently, the WCC initiated a petition campaign in
which churches in 23 

industrial countries gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures from
church members calling on their governments to support a strong treaty
in Kyoto which would lead to substantial reductions in emissions.

"Unless the greed of the rich few can be replaced by genuine love and
concern for all of God's creation, then Kyoto could be a failure", Hallman
warns.

Dr David Hallam can be contacted in Japan:
Until 30 November: Hearton Hotel, Kyoto Tel +81.75.222.1300; Fax
+81.75.222.1313
30 Nov - 11 Dec: Kansai Seminar House Tel +81.75.711.211; Fax
+81.75.701.52
Mobile Phone: In Japan 02.03.02.15.18; From abroad +81.2.03.02.15.18

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 330, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions.  The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but
works cooperatively with the WCC.  The highest governing body is the
Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years.  The WCC
was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is
headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church
in Germany.

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