Source: CatholicIreland.net
December 16th, 2009
Last weekend Church bells across the world chimed 350 times to highlight the need for an agreement to be reached at the Copenhagen climate conference. 350 chimes represents the same number of parts per million some developing nations say is the safe upper concentration for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
In Ireland and the UK, Christian churches rang bells, as did those in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and the US – everywhere from Greenland to the Polynesian islands in fact. The bell ringing which took place at 3:00pm local time on Sunday was organised by the World Council of Churches, which represents more than 500 million Christians.
"We have only one world, this world, if we destroy it, we have nothing else,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who is present in Copenhagen. He summarized the churches’ message to negotiators and politicians attending the UN summit: "For the sake of your children, of your grandchildren, care for this one world we have […] Let us have a legally enforceable deal, not a political deal."
Such an agreement would involve developed nations committing to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 40 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050 in regard to their 1990 emission levels. They should also contribute 150 billion US dollars per year to assist developing nations to reduce their own CO2 emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change.
Also on Sunday (13 December) there was an ecumenical service at the Lutheran Cathedral in Copenhagen, and it was attended by Queen Margarethe of Denmark, and delegates of the climate conference. In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams spoke about fear as the root of excuses to avoid the difficult and costly decisions that the climate change crisis requires – "decisions that will mean real change.”
"We meet as people of faith in the context of this critical moment in human history [to say] do not be afraid,” Williams said. As "love casts out fear,” it also helps to take "the right decisions for our global future.”
In order to ensure that the earth is a safe home for future generations, some questions need to be asked today, said Williams. Amongst them, "What would be a healthy and sustainable relationship with this world?" and "How shall we build international institutions that make sure the resources get where they are needed?"
Trócaire is present with other aid agencies at the UN Conference in Copenhagen. And its climate advisor Niamh Garvey said of progress so far, “The EU is trying to pull the wool over our eyes by announcing €7bn in climate financing for developing countries. But neither Ireland nor the EU will commit that this climate finance is new money. Therefore Ireland and the EU are simply dusting off old commitments they made to overseas aid and trying to pass them off as new ones.”
It is unclear whether Ireland’s commitment of €100 million to this EU climate finance package is ‘new’ money. Niamh Garvey said that EU leaders must start looking for long-term solutions.
The Irish Bishops’ Conference launched a pastoral reflection, The Cry of the Earth, in advance of the Copenhagen event (see: www.catholicbishops.ie).
by Ann Marie Foley
