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Religious Leaders Play Fundamental Role in Confronting Climate Change Challenges LWF Statement on UN Climate Change Conference in Indonesia GENEVA, 5 December 2007 (LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is appealing to religious leaders to play their essential role in building the requisite "community commitment and political will" for fundamental behavioral shifts with regard to climate change. In a statement issued today on the occasion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Bali, Indonesia, LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko reiterates that the dimensions of the climate crisis transcend politics and call for "engagement at the most fundamental ethical level." The 3-14 December meeting attended by representatives of over 180 countries and observers from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations is expected to result in negotiations on a climate change deal after 2012, the year the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires. The first phase is aimed at reducing greenhouse gases that lead to climate change. Noko urges the Bali conference to take concrete steps toward consensus on the necessary steps including "radical and far-reaching" actions if the trends already underway are to be stabilized and reversed. He notes that global average surface temperature could still be limited to a sub-catastrophic increase of 2Â C above the pre-industrial level, "but only if global greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by at least 30% of the 1990 level by 2020 and 80% by 2050." Referring to an LWF statement at the time of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize award to former US Vice President Al Gore and the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Noko underlines the need to recognize the common respect for creation as a basis for interfaith cooperation to protect and preserve the earth and assure sustainable life for all.
He stresses the contribution of indigenous people "in relating to and living in God's creation" and calls attention to their environmental wisdom with regard to climate change and the necessary responses. "As a global communion of churches, we are called to take concerted actions that will be effective in mitigating the impacts of climate change, especially on the poorest and most vulnerable communities," he adds. (358 words) The full text of the LWF statement on the climate change conference is available in PDF version on the LWF Web site at: http://www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF_Statement_on_Bali_Conference pdf
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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140 member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total membership of nearly 66.7 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and interfaith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)
[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]
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