wfn.org | WCC - We hold the earth in trust for our children

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

World Council of Churches
Feature, Feat-01-19
For Immediate Use
9 November 2001

We hold the earth in trust for our children

WCC inter-religious colloquium at the climate summit in
Marrakesh: an exchange of views between Islam and Christianity on
the subject of climate change

Mirjam Schubert

cf. WCC Press Release, PR-01-39, of 26 October 2001

A special event was announced for 3 November on the daily
calendar of events at the climate conference in Marrakesh.  This
was a day-long inter-religious colloquium sponsored by the World
Council of Churches (WCC).  The seventh climate conference, which
ends today, 9 November, was being held in a predominantly Muslim
country and the WCC delegation saw this as an opportunity to
explore Christian and Islamic perspectives on climate change. 
More than 75 delegates representing non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and governments took part in the colloquium,
as well as members of Christian and Muslim faith communities in
Morocco.  

David Hallmann, the coordinator of the WCC climate change
programme, stresses the importance of dialogue between the faith
communities: "I think it is very significant that we are here
together discussing a subject that concerns us all - the effects
of climate change on our world."   

To facilitate the exchange between the different faith
communities and nationalities, simultaneous interpreters for
French, Arabic and English were on hand throughout the
colloquium, so that participants could use the language in which
they felt most at ease.  For David Hallmann this was a mark of
hospitality and respect:  "It shows that we in the WCC are
serious about dialogue."  

The morning started with a presentation by Professor Ahmed L.
Khamlichi, an Islamic scholar from the Royal Moroccan Palace, who
explained Islam's position on climate change.  "The Koran states
that God allows human beings to enjoy 
everything necessary to satisfy their desires, such as food,
clothing, housing, transport and every other ornament or means of
enjoyment - but with balance and moderation and no excess or
overuse."  For Khamlichi, maintaining balance is also
existentially important for the earth's climate, for the earth
was created as a balance system.  To counteract climate change,
every individual must contribute actively to restoring and
maintaining this balance.  For, as he said, "each generation will
only live for an allotted time.  The environment is not something
that can be owned by anyone here and now.  The environment and
the climate belong to coming generations."  

Father Henri Madelin, a Jesuit priest and university professor
from Paris, outlined some elements of a Christian approach.  He
pointed out that, in the past, the Christian churches had
concentrated too much on the role of human beings in history. 
The ecological context had been disregarded.  "It is time to
return to a concept which inserts humanity within the biosphere,
going from the anthropocentrism of modern culture to the
biblical, cosmological theocentrism."  A theology of this kind
must inevitably lead to an ethic of responsibility, Father
Madelin said, and this has implications both for individual
actions and collective political decisions.  

During the discussions and conversations it became apparent that
the positions of the two religions on climate issues are very
close to one another.  Preservation of the creation for coming
generations is a prime concern for both.  The Moroccan delegate
Abdelkader Allali stressed that religions can help to address
environmental and climate issues by using a "language of the
heart".  He urged that this should be given a much greater role
in climate negotiations.  

Addressing the colloquium, Michael Zammit Cutajar, the executive
secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), expressed appreciation of this inter-religious
dialogue sponsored by the WCC.  He emphasised that
"sustainability is not simply a matter of living together in
harmony with nature, it also means living in harmony with human
beings".  

In the ensuing panel discussion among representatives of the
Swedish, Irish, Argentinian and Moroccan governments, H.E.
Ambassador Raul Ostrada-Oyuela from Argentina again noted the
commonalties between the religions when it comes to protecting
the earth for future generations.  Outlining his expectations of
the religions in relation to climate issues, Stefan Edman of the
Swedish delegation said, "they can help us to recapture a sense
of the sacredness of creation, for nature mirrors the beauty and
love of God.  We have to develop a new attitude of humility
towards nature."  The churches, he said, also have a duty to show
solidarity with the poorer countries which are already suffering
the effects of climate change.  "The industrial nations are
practising a new kind of colonialism with the stratosphere and we
have to put a stop to that."  

Lucy Mulnkei from Kenya presented the position of the indigenous
peoples: "For us Mother Earth is sacred.  The land and our
environment are the very basis of our existence and our culture;
they are our pride and joy, our life.  But our living space is
being altered by climate change.  Our sacred places of worship
are disappearing.  The religions must help us to understand what
is happening - and what we can do in our local communities."  

The colloquium made a deep impression on all the participants. 
Ahmed Said, a university lecturer from Marrakesh, said, "I'm
going to use Ramadan to re-read the whole Koran and study all the
passages referring to the environment.  I want to make my own
contribution to preserving creation and this will be a first
step."  

As they left their booths at the end of the colloquium the
interpreters, too, were impressed.  "Your words have touched our
hearts,"  they said.  For the WCC delegation one thing is clear -
this is only the beginning of the dialogue between the faith
communities on climate issues.  
-------------------
The German journalist Mirjam Schubert accompanied the WCC
ecumenical team at the 7th climate conference (COP 7) in
Marrakesh, Morocco.  

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.

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