World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org For immediate release - 10/04/2007 11:01:43 AM
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE TO STAY; WCC/CHRISTIAN AID CONSULTATION TO EXPLORE ITS LINKS WITH DEVELOPMENT
What are the implications of climate change for development in a world where years of development efforts are destroyed in a few seconds or hours by a hurricane or a single flood? This will be the subject of a 12-15 April 2007 consultation in London hosted by Christian Aid and sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC) Working Group on Climate Change.
The consultation is expected to renew and update ecumenical advocacy positions and policy in relation to intergovernmental negotiations on climate change after 2012 - the year when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires. It will also review options for faith communities' participation in a proposed global civil society campaign on climate change.
In reflecting from a theological and ethical perspective on the interface between climate change and development, the consultation will consider Northern societies' responsibilities and how Southern societies can pursue their legitimate development goals. Also on the agenda are readaptation strategies as well as emission reduction targets and timetables.
The consultation will hear about plans for a global civil society campaign on climate change that environmental organizations together with faith communities intend to launch later this year.
Some 25 representatives of church-related relief and development agencies will join the members of the WCC climate change group at the consultation.
Participating organizations:
Bread for the World/Church Development Service (Germany) Christian Aid (UK) Church of Sweden Aid Church World Service (USA) Evangelical Environment Network (USA) ICCO/Kerkinactie (The Netherlands) KairosCanada Norwegian Church Aid Tearfund (UK) World Council of Churches Working Group on Climate Change
Background information on how the ecumenical family sees the post-Kyoto period can be found in the 2004 statement "Moving beyond Kyoto with justice, equity and solidarity" available on the WCC website at: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=3411
Additional information: Juan Michel, +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
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The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 347 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
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