wfn.org | WCC delegation at UN Climate Conference in Marrakesh

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

World Council of Churches
Press Release, PR-01-39
For Immediate Use
26 October 2001

United Nations Climate Conference in Marrakesh:

World Council of Churches delegation plans a Christian-Muslim
colloquium on religion and environment

cf. WCC Press Feature, Feat-01-10, of 30 July 2001
cf. WCC Press Release, PR-01-24, of 16 July 2001
cf. WCC Press Release, PR-01-14, of 15 June 2001

An ecumenical delegation will once again be representing the
World Council of Churches (WCC) when government delegates meet in
Marrakesh for what is now the seventh UN Climate Conference
(COP), from 29 October to 9 November.  

At this climate summit, the delegation plans to emphasize
inter-religious dialogue between Muslims and Christians around
the theme of environment and religion.  

Among its other activities at the conference in Marrakesh, the
WCC delegation will hold a colloquium on the subject of religion
and environment in the Hotel Kenzi Farah (Avenue du President
Kennedy), on Saturday 3 November, from 9.00 to 17.00 hrs. 
Discussion will focus primarily on Muslim and Christian
approaches to environmental issues and climate change. 
Presentations, panel discussions and plenaries at the colloquium
will stimulate reflection on how Christians and Muslims can work
together in tackling the threat of climate change and its
consequences.  

Speakers will include Ahmed L. Khamlichi, director of Dar El
Hadith El Hassania, Royal Palace, from Rabat, on the theme
Islamic Perspectives on Environment and Climate Change, and
Father Henri Madelin, editor of Etudes, from Paris, on the theme
Christian Perspectives on Environment and Climate Change. 
Representatives of the government delegations from Sweden,
Indonesia, Morocco and Argentina have been invited to the panel
discussions in the afternoon.  

At each of the climate conferences so far, the WCC delegation
has organized workshops and ecumenical worship services with
local and national faith communities and religious groups.  For
David Hallman, leader of the WCC delegation at the climate
conference, it is essential that the religions and the churches
tackle the issues of climate change: "The churches' involvement
stems from our belief that God created and loves this world.  We
believe that God intends that humans, as an integral part of
creation, should live in a wholesome relationship to the rest of
creation so as not to cause such destruction that species,
eco-systems and indeed large numbers of people are threatened." 

The WCC believes that the industrialized countries carry the
main burden of moral responsibility for the serious climate
changes that are taking place.  Poorer countries are specially
vulnerable.  Future generations will also be affected by the
consequences of climate change.  All this means that the WCC also
has to play a pioneering role in reducing the causes of climate
change: "It is a question of eco-justice," David Hallman
declares.  The WCC delegation intends to emphasize this at the
colloquium in Marrakesh.  

Another major concern of the WCC at this conference is that
governments should clear the way for the final ratification of
the Kyoto Protocol, so that it can at long last come into force. 
Says David Hallman: "The WCC is encouraged that the Kyoto
Protocol now appears to be moving forward as a result of the Bonn
agreement in July.  The engagement of churches around the world
no doubt contributed to the public support in many of the 178
countries that supported that agreement.  As churches, we must
continue that activity so that governments ratify and begin
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol."  

At the follow-up conference to the climate summit in The Hague,
held in Bonn in July of this year, the ministers who reached the
"Bonn agreement" agreed in principle to accept the Kyoto
Protocol.  A great many technical questions remained to be
resolved, however, and these were held over for the meeting in
Marrakesh.  States are not formally bound to implement the
practical measures against the causes of climate change laid down
in the Kyoto Protocol until they have ratified the latter.      

The USA has not so far given any sign of being willing to take
part in the negotiations about the Kyoto Protocol.  The WCC must
therefore continue to show solidarity with the churches in the
USA, David Hallman insists: "As a global ecumenical community, we
need to support the churches in the USA which continue their
efforts to bring their government back into active participation
in international efforts to address climate change."  

For further information, please contact Karin Achtelstetter,
Media Relations Officer,
Tel.:  (+41.22) 791.61.53   Mobile:  (+41) 79.284.52.12

**********
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches,
now 342, 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, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general
secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

World Council of Churches
Media Relations Office
Tel: (41 22) 791 6153 / 791 6421
Fax: (41 22) 798 1346
E-mail: ka@wcc-coe.org 
Web: www.wcc-coe.org 

PO Box 2100
1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland