wfn.org | WCC UPDATE: WCC welcomes Russian decision on climate change

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

World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org 
 

For immediate release: 1 October 2004

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES WELCOMES RUSSIAN DECISION ON CLIMATE CHANGE 

"The WCC is very pleased that the Russian Federation will now be ratifying
the Kyoto Protocol, which will trigger the criteria to bring the treaty into
effect as international law," said World Council of Churches (WCC) Climate
Change programme coordinator Dr David Hallmann yesterday about the Russian
Cabinet's decision to forward the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change to
the Russian Parliament (Duma).

"The world's nations have been struggling to address the issue of climate
change in negotiating international treaties for over 15 years. The
ecumenical community through the WCC has been actively participating in this
process recognizing climate change as a justice issue that will affect the
most vulnerable peoples and future generations," Hallmann continued.

The Kyoto Protocol is strongly supported by the WCC, which views ratification
of the Protocol as limited but essential step towards diminishing the threat
of climate change. The Council has been involved in the discussion on climate
change for more than 15 years, being convinced that more than a scientific,
ecological, economic and political concern, climate change also has important
spiritual and ethical dimensions. 

Dr David Hallman participated last October in a World Conference on Climate
Change in Moscow in close co-operation with Russian partners who urged the
Russian political authorities to accept the Protocol.

"The WCC will continue to pressure the United States of America, the world's
largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and Australia to follow the lead of so
many other countries now including Russia to take this important step as
global citizens and ratify the Protocol," Hallmann declared. 

The Kyoto Protocol prescribes the decline of greenhouse gases emission by at
least 5% by 2008-2012 compared with the 1990 level. More than 35
industrialized countries have adopted the protocol so far. 

More information about the WCC's work on climate change is available at: 
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/ecology.html 

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

Sign up for WCC press releases at
http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

 The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
 more than 120 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, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
 general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.