“Creation at the Heart of Mission,”

Lobby Governments on Climate Change

MAY 16th 2009

We  a group of 230 women and men religious from over 50 countries and representing 82 religious and missionary institutes who are attending the seminar “Creation at the Heart of Mission,” organised by the JPIC Commission of the USG/UISG and SEDOS. One of recurring themes throughout the week was the call of Pope John Paul II in 2001 to all people, but especially Christians, to ecological conversion.  One practical action we could take in the run-up to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December 2009 would be to lobby our national government on the issue of climate change.  Here are some points which might like to raised.

1. Many countries, especially in the Majority World (Global South) are already suffering serious consequences, such as floods and droughts as a result of human-induced climate change.
   
2. Lobby government to commit to:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emission by between 25% and 40% by the year 2020 and 80% to 90% by 2050 and to enshrine that commitment in legislation.

• Making greater financial commitment to the Adaptation Fund as a matter of justice, despite the current economic downturn. (The Adaptation Fund has been set up by the UN to help poor countries adapt to the consequences of climate change).

• Promoting economic justice globally as a way to mitigate the effects of climate change on the poor.

• Further information can be found on climate change on several websites, including the Hienrich Boell Foundation www.heinrichboell.org or FEAST (Foundation for the economics of sustainability) www.feasta.org

We are all encouraged become involved in other pressing ecological issues such as the rampant destruction of biodiversity (God’s creation) and the decreasing availability of potable water.