wfn.org | United Methodist Daily News note 500

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (500
notes).

Note 500 by UMNS on Dec. 10, 1997 at 16:01 Eastern (2389 characters).

TITLE:	WCC seeks justice in climate change treaty

Contact:  Joretta Purdue  	688(10-21-71B){500}
		Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722  	Dec. 10, 1997

NOTE TO EDITORS: This story may be used as a sidebar to UMNS story #687 {499}.

World Council of Churches seeks
justice in climate change negotiations

	KYOTO, Japan (UMNS) -- A plea for justice was the theme of a two-page
statement that World Council of Churches (WCC) representatives addressed to
the parties working for a climate change treaty Dec. 9 -- a day before the
historic gathering in Kyoto, Japan, was to adjourn.
	The WCC statement was delivered to the "High Level Segment," at which senior
representatives of governments are present and speak, by the WCC Climate
Change Programme coordinator, David G. Hallman of Canada. He called for
keeping the promises made at Rio de Janeiro to stabilize greenhouse gas
emissions at 1990 levels by 2000.
	"The rich of the world, through promotion of the current economic model, have
been and continue to be responsible for the vast majority of
emissions-causing, human-produced climate change, but seem unwilling to
honestly acknowledge that responsibility and translate it into action," the
document states.
	The WCC fellowship comprises some 330 churches in more than 100 countries.
The Roman Catholic Church is not a member but works cooperatively with the
WCC. The United Methodist Church is a member.
	United Methodist policy on the environment includes an endorsement of the WCC
s consultation on "Accelerated Climate Change: Sign of Peril, Test of Faith"
and its 10-year efforts in this area.
 	Justice, the document said, means:
	*	"being held responsible for the suffering you cause to 		others";
	*	"being held accountable for abuse of power"; and
	*	having "an equitable sharing of the Earth's resources."
	Reducing the threat of climate change will require significantly cutting
domestic greenhouse gas emissions by industrialized countries, the WCC stated.
It urged that developing countries not be subjected to formal emission
limitation commitments yet but be encouraged to become more energy efficient.
	The WCC called for sharing financial and technological resources. It also
asked that input from indigenous cultures, women's organizations and other
groups be considered in learning to live in "a socially just, equitable and
ecologically sustainable manner."
	# # #
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