wfn.org | WCC NEWS: UN climate summit: WCC calls for faith in feasibility of climate justice

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 12/12/2008 13:39:56

WCC DELEGATION AT UN CONFERENCE CALLS FOR FAITH IN THE
FEASIBILITY OF CLIMATE JUSTICE

In a statement to the plenary of high-level segment of the
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznań, Poland on
Friday, 12 December, a delegation representing the World Council
of Churches (WCC) will tell government representatives that a
"much more principle-based approach is crucial for reaching an
effective and equitable global climate policy regime built on the
ethical imperatives of justice, equity and solidarity."

The statement, which calls for good use of the remaining small
"window of opportunity" to limit the extent and prevent the most
detrimental impacts of climate change on nature, societies,
economies and development opportunities, will be presented by
Archbishop Anders Wejryd, primate of the Church of Sweden.

Inspired by a 27-30 November Interfaith Climate Summit in
Uppsala, Sweden, it will also underscore the role of faith
communities promoting hope and trust in the "feasibilityof
climate proof, sustainable societies and lifestyles that will
enhance life with dignity."

More information on the ecumenical representation in Poznań:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/respect-the-human-rights.html

>WCC campaign on climate change:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3416

Website of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in
Poznań:
http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_14/items/4481.php

>Full text of the statement:

Faith and Feasability - Responsibly searching for a "new heaven
and a new earth"

Mister President,

Distinguished Participants in this United Nations Climate
Conference,

Two weeks ago 29 committed leaders from all major faith
traditions convened at the Uppsala Interfaith Climate Summit and
signed a strong manifesto, which is brought to you as an appendix
to this statement. People of different faiths give their support
to change governed by justice, equity, solidarity, peace and
love. 

In December 2007 during our message to the plenary of the high
level segment of COP13-CMP3 meeting in Bali, Indonesia, the WCC
affirmed that as faith communities we are convinced a change of
paradigm is needed, if the world is to adequately respond to the
challenge of climate change. In February this year, the WCC
Central Committee in its Minute on Global Warming and Climate
Change called for "a profound change in the relationship towards
nature, economic policies, consumption, production and
technological patterns". It was added that societies must shift
to a new vision where the operative principles are justice,
equity, solidarity, human development and care for the
environment. And it claimed to the world: "This far and no
further: act fast and act now!"

The process towards Copenhagen, started in Bali, must strengthen
the commitment of the international community to go beyond the
Kyoto Protocol in order to effectively address the threat of
global warming. 

The journey from COP1 in Berlin in 1995 has been a long one. The
WCC has been present in all the UN climate conferences around the
world, expressing solidarity with victims of climate change, a.o.
in African countries and Pacific Island States, who already
suffer from increasing droughts, floods and the sea-level rise.
We have supported them in their demand for climate justice for
all. 

Meeting this year in Poznań, we feel the urgency as we think we
have only a small "window of opportunity" of less than 10 years
in which to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse
gases, limit atmospheric temperature rise to 2˚C and at the same
time prevent the most detrimental impacts on nature, societies,
economies and development opportunities. But as a Christian
fellowship of churches we also do this with faith, because we
know the needed changes are possible and believe in the promise
of "…a new heaven and a new earth…" (Book of Revelation, 21:1),
where justice, equity, solidarity, peace and love will prevail.
As churches, faith is the reason for us to act. We share this
inspiration with other faith traditions. Thus the feasibility of
adequately addressing climate change depends very much on the
political will and consequent decisions this COP will make. 

It is our conviction that what is needed for getting
negotiations moving and people changing is a convincing argument
on the feasibility of climate proof, sustainable societies and
lifestyles that will enhance life with dignity. Faith communities
have an important role to play. 

First and foremost, ambitious politics are needed. As a
fellowship of churches, representing more than 500 million people
in the world, we urge State Parties and the international
community to renew, strengthen and deepen their commitment
regarding climate change and global warming. 

Once again, we affirm the basic thrust of the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to
provide an instrument for a significant reduction of greenhouse
gases in order to mitigate human induced climate change. We renew
our call for a prompt implementation of the obligations of the
Kyoto Protocol as this will give a convincing signal that climate
change and responsibilities are taken seriously. 

But emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are
still increasing, which continues to be a matter of alarm. We
call governments to take much more radical steps in terms to cut
emissions. The signatories of the Uppsala manifesto call for cuts
in developed countries by at least 40 per cent by 2020 and 90 per
cent by 2050 against 1990 levels. At the same time ambitious
quantitative and short term goals for the use of renewable energy
are needed. 

The issue of adaptation still has been given insufficient
attention. This may be attributed to the unwillingness of
industrialized countries to accept real responsibility for
climate change and to the lack of clarity about the concept of
adaptation. Adaptation must be firmly based on human rights. It
must include efforts to reduce people's vulnerability and
strengthen their strategies to cope with a changing climate and
manage and strengthen the local ecosystems that people, to
greater or lesser degrees, depend on for their livelihoods.
Comprehensive policies and adequate funding for adaptation
programmes in countries severely affected by climate change have
to be implemented. 

A much more principle-based approach is crucial for reaching an
effective and equitable global climate policy regime built on the
ethical imperatives of justice, equity and solidarity. On a more
practical level this pleads for responsibility principles like
"the polluter pays", the precautionary principle, maximum risk
reduction and "the polluter changes". Justice and solidarity are
interpreted in terms of priority and support for the poorest and
those most affected by climate change and the right to
sustainable development for those living in poverty and
marginalization. 

Mister President, distinguished participants,

Once more, as a fellowship of churches, we appeal to you to
continue the process in order to reach the unambiguous solution
we are expecting. Despite the threat of climate change with a
sense of wonder we look at life on planet Earth. It is a miracle
and a gift! We all share the responsibility of being conscious
caretakers of this home of ours. We shall be with you and have
you in our prayers, as you already are in the prayers of millions
of people around the world.

>Act here and act now!

>Thank you.

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507
6363media@wcc-coe.org

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 349 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.