wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Climate negotiators must "act now", say church leaders

["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 - 16/12/2009 15:39:33

NEGOTIATORS AT SPUTTERING CLIMATE TALKS MUST "ACT NOW"

With the climate change negotiations sputtering and showing signs of being  less than legally binding, ambitious and fair, leaders of churches and  international church organizations sent a message to negotiators Tuesday  evening imploring them to "not be afraid." The letter, which was signed by  Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the incoming and outgoing general secretaries of  the World Council of Churches as well as church leaders from Europe, North  America and the Pacific, says the negotiations are at a crucial stage and  negotiators need to be steadfast to "act now." The message also called on  the negotiators to keep in mind the historical responsibility of the  industrialized countries in climate justice. "At this crucial stage in the  negotiations we would like to reiterate our firm conviction that there is  an undeniable historical responsibility on the part of the industrialized  countries for the climate change crisis that we currently face."

>Full text of the message:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=7471

>WCC activities in Copenhagen:
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=7462

Photo gallery (high resolution pictures available):
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=7461

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.