September 2009
We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, leaders of the world’s religions, and other members of civil society, urge the governments of the world to participate in the UN High Level Event on Climate Change through representatives at the highest level and unequivocally call on them to:
Bahá’í International Community,
Citizens for Science Accountability & Safety,
Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul,
Congregation of Notre Dame,
Franciscans International,
GRATIS Foundation,
Initiatives of Change International,
International Peace Research Association,
International Presentation Association of the Sisters of the Presentation,
International Public Policy Institute,
International Women’s Anthropology Conference,
Loretto Community,
Oxfam,
Passionists International,
School Sisters of Notre Dame,
Sisters of Charity Federation,
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur,
Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries,
Solar Cookers International,
SustainUS,
The Congregations of St. Joseph,
UNANIMA International,
WEDO,
WOCAN
http://www.bic.org/statements-and-reports/ethical-dimensions-appeal-for-high-level-event.pdf
1. Early Statements on Religion and Ecology
2. Official Statements on Religion and Ecology from Religious Organizations
3. Official Statements on Religion and Ecology
4. Church Related Organizations Working with Environmental Issues
The statements listed here are reflective of some of the current statements on religion and ecology. It is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of all statements on religion and ecology.
1. Early Statements Calling for the Religious Community to Address Environmental Issues
Global Forum, Moscow: January 1990
(Obtained Through the National Religious Partnership for the Environment)
“Preserving and Cherishing the Earth: An Appeal for Joint Commitment in Science and Religion”
National Religious Partnership for the Environment 1991
“The Joint Appeal in Religion and Science: Statement by Religious Leaders at the Summit on Environment”
Union of Concerned Scientists 1992
“World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity”
2. Official Statements on Religion and Ecology from Religious Organizations
Buddhism
Statement Prepared by Kevin Fossey
Buddhism Faith Statement on Ecology
Daoism
The China Daoist Association
Daoist Faith Statement
Indigenous Traditions
Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER)
Environmental Capacity-building Initiatives for First Nations
First Nations Environmental Network
“Voices for Mother Earth”
Statement Submitted by Thomas Banyacya
Hopi Message to the United Nations General Assembly
Jainism
Statement Prepared by Dr L. M. Singhvi for the Institute of Jainology
Jain Faith Statement
Judaism
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)
“Mission Statement”
Interfaith Climate Network
Let There Be Light: Energy Conservation and God's Creation
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Confronting the Challenge of Climate Change
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
JCPA Statement on Environmental Leadership and Justice
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Resolution On Energy And Environment Priorities
National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council
Statement on The Protection of Biological Diversity
Statement Prepared by Professor Nahum Rakover for the
World Jewish Congress
Jewish Faith Statement
Shinto
Statement Prepared by the Jinja Honcho
Shinto Faith Statement
Christianity
National Council of Churches (NCC)
Eco-justice Working Group
National Religious Partnership for the Environment
“Mission Statement”
World Council of Churches
Justice, Peace, and Creation Concerns
“The Earth’s Atmosphere: Responsible Caring and Equitable Sharing for a Global Commons”
“WCC Statement to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP3”
"Churches for Water in Africa"
Interfaith Organizations
Interfaith Council for Environmental Stewardship
The Montserrat Statement (Buddhist and Christian)
Other Organizations: Religion and Science
Joint Appeal by Religion and Science for the Environment
“Declaration of the ‘Mission to Washington’”
3. Official Statements on Religion and Ecology
Christian Denominational Statements
Note that official statements and resolutions are defined differently from various denominational perspectives. Please read the overview pages of each denomination to gain a clearer understanding of how these statements are presented and acted upon within the organization.
American Baptist
“Policy Statements and Resolutions Home Page”
Policy Statement on “Ecology: An Ecological Situational Analysis”
Resolution on “Environmental Concerns”
Resolution on “Global Warming”
Resolution on “Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste”
Resolution on “Individual Lifestyle for Ecological Responsibility”
Resolution on “Nuclear Power: Seeking Rational Solutions”
Catholic Church
Alberta Bishops Letter on Ecology (October 4, 1998)
“Celebrate Life: Care for Creation”
Archdiocese of Santa Fe (October 15–16, 2000)
New Mexico Religious Leaders Statement to the Interfaith Climate Change Training Event
Bishops Pastoral Letter (2001)
“Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good”
“The Columbia River Watershed: Caring for Creation and the Common Good: Reflection Guide”
Boston Province Bishops Pastoral Letter on the Environment (October 4, 2000)
“And God Saw That It Was Good”
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
“What is Happening to Our Beautiful Land?”
New Mexico Catholic Conference
“Partnership for the Future”
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
“Toward a Better Distribution of Land”
Pope John Paul
Address to Farmers and Agricultural Representatives (2000)
“Earth is Entrusted to Humanity’s Use, Not Abuse”
Pope John Paul
“The Ecological Crisis: A Common Responsibility”
Pope John Paul XXIII: Encyclical Letter
Pacem in Terris: “On Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity, and Liberty”
Pope John Paul’s Homily (2000)
“We Must Be the Custodians of Nature”
Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Roman Catholic-Eastern Orthodox Joint Declaration on the Environment
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Environmental Initiatives
Community Supported Agriculture
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Environmental Justice Public Policy (Brownfields, Energy, Takings, Climate Change)
“Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good”
“Renewing the Earth”
USCCB Environmental Justice Program
Episcopal Church
General List of Statements on:
Environmental Stewardship
Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation
Land Use
Episcopal Church Involvement in Special Projects
“Peace and Justice: Environmental Stewardship”
Other Episcopal Resources
Episcopal Ecological Network (EEN)
Studies and Other Study Papers
"Can New Nuclear Weapons Prevent Nuclear War?"
Nuclear Energy: Problems and Promises (1980)
Church Involvement in Special Projects
Environmental Education and Advocacy
Greek Orthodox: Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Presentations and Reports from Seminars and Symposiums on Religion, Science, and the Environment
Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople
Protocol No. 765
Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Pope John Paul II
Eastern Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Declaration on the Environment
United Methodist Church
From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church
Statements on “Animal Life”
Statements on “Energy Resources Utilization”
Statements on “Space" and on “Science and Technology”
Statements on “The Natural World”
Statements on “Water, Air, Soil, Minerals, Plants”
Additional related statements about the Natural World can be found in The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church (no on-line format available).
Unitarian Universalist
General Resources
UU Master Page for Actions, Resolutions, and Resources (1961�2000)
Master page on “Ecological Resolutions”
General Environmental Resolutions
Resolution on “Earth, Air, Water, and Fire” (1997)
Resolution on the “Environment” (1969)
Resolution on the “Environment” (1971)
Resolution on “Natural Resources” (1966)
Resolution on “Protecting the Biosphere” (1989)
“Seventh Principal of the UU Principals and Purposes Statement”
Energy Issues
Resolution on “Alternative Sources and Conservation of Energy” (1981)
Resolution on “Safer Alternatives to the Alaska Pipeline” (1973)
Resolution on “Energy” (1977)
Resolution on “Nuclear Power” (1976)
Resolution on “Safer Sources of Energy” (1992)
Resolution on “Solar Heating” (1979)
Environmental Justice
Resolution on “Carcinogens in Air and Water” (1976)
Resolution on “Environmental Justice” (1994)
Resolution on “Toxic Substances and Hazardous Waste” (1984)
Resolution on “Toxic Threats to Children” (1997)
Policy Issues
Resolution on “Problems of Environmental Policy” (1977)
Resolutions on “United Nations and Earth Day Celebrations” (1994)
Population
Resolution on “Choices Affecting Population” (1990)
Resolution on “Population” (1962)
Resolution on “Population and Development” (1996)
Resolution on “Population and the Quality of Life” (1975)
Resolution on “Population Stabilization” (1973)
Resolution on “Survival and Population Control” (1970)
Resolution on “World Hunger and Population Control” (1966)
Additional Denominational Statements on the Environment
The Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty
Islamic Statements
Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Guardians of the Natural Order
United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development
Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development
The original draft of the first official Islamic statement was entitled, the "Jeddah Environment Declaration." This statement was later renamed the "Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development." This statement is included in the United Nations (UN) World Summit on Development (Johannesburg, South Africa) paper entitled, "General Framework of Islamic Agenda for Sustainable Development Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development: Background Paper No.5."
Statement Prepared by Hyder Ihsan Mahasneh for the Muslim World League
Islamic Faith Statement
4. Religiously Related Organizations Working with Environmental Issues
Christianity
Episcopal
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS)
“Mission Statement”
Episcopal Power and Light: The Regeneration Project
The Episcopal Working Group on Science, Technology, and Faith
“Mission Statement”
Lutheran
Environmental Education and Advocacy
Presbyterian
Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
“Mission Statement”
Unitarian Universalist
Ministry for Earth (formerly the Seventh Principal Project)
Other Ecumenical Agencies
Eco-Justice Ministries
Worldwide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions along with funding for adaptation to climate change, particularly for nations which can least afford adaptation measures, will need to be much stronger than currently planned if dangerous global impacts of climate change are to be avoided. This May 2008 article from Nature Reports Climate Change, whose lead author Martin Parry is the former co-chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, presents opportunities for world leaders to address this challenge.
To read “Climate Policy: Squaring Up To Reality,” click here:
http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0806/full/climate.2008.50.html
The pace of global warming is accelerating much faster than was predicted in the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, because industrial greenhouse gas emissions have increased more quickly than expected and higher temperatures are triggering self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms in global ecosystems. Scientists at the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University released their findings on February 14th at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “We are basically looking now at a future climate that’s beyond anything we’ve considered seriously in climate model simulations,” said Christopher Field, principle investigator of the study.
To read more on the Carnegie Institution’s AAAS paper, click here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/14/AR2009021401757.html
To read more on why the 2007 IPCC report is already out of date, click here:
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2120
A Spiritual Obligation to Act on Climate Change
By Rev. Nelson Bock, Denver Post
September 30, 2009
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13446139
Statement of the World's Religious Traditions on Climate Change
September 21, 2009
http://www.religionsforpeace.org/initiatives/protect-earth
Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change: Appeal to World Leaders
September 2009
http://www.bic.org/statements-and-reports/ethical-dimensions-appeal-for-high-level-event.pdf
Uppsala Interfaith Climate Manifesto
October 2008
http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=173302
An Interfaith Declaration on the Moral Responsibility of the U.S. Government to Address Global Warming
The Regeneration Project and the Interfaith Power and Light campaign http://www.theregenerationproject.org/
May 2007
http://www.theregenerationproject.org/mfiles/Interfaith%20Declaration.pdf
Common Declaration of Pope Benedict XVI and The Archbishop of Canterbury His Grace Rowan Williams
November 23, 2006
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20061123_common-decl_en.html
Earth's Climate Embraces Us All: A Plea from Religion and Science for Action on Global Climate Change
The National Religious Partnership on the Environment http://www.nrpe.org/index.html
May 2004
http://www.nrpe.org/issues/i_air/air_interfaith01.htm
Common Declaration on Environmental Ethics
Pope John Paul II and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
June 10, 2002
http://212.77.1.243/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2002/june/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20020610_venice-declaration_en.html
Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship
February 1, 2000
http://www.cornwallalliance.org/articles/read/the-cornwall-declaration-on-environmental-stewardship/
Shinto Faith Statement on Ecology
2003
http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=74
Prepared by the Jinja Honcho, the representative body of all Shinto Shrines in Japan. From the book, Faith in Conservation, by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.
Jewish Values and Position of the Reform Jewish Movement on Climate Change
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
2009
http://rac.org/advocacy/issues/issuecc/jp/
The Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) Mission Statement
2007
http://www.coejl.org/~coejlor/about/mission.php
COEJL deepens the Jewish community’s commitment to the stewardship of creation and mobilizes the resources of Jewish life and learning to protect the Earth and all its inhabitants.
World Jewish Congress Faith Statement on Ecology
2003
http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=81
Prepared on behalf of the World Jewish Congress by Professor Nahum Rakover, an Orthodox legalist and Torah/Talmud scholar. From the book, Faith in Conservation, by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.
Global Warming: A Jewish Response
Prepared by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) for the National Interfaith Training on Global Warming
September 2000
http://www.coejl.org/climatechange/gw_jewishresponse.php
Jainism Faith Statement on Ecology
2003
http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=82
Prepared on behalf of the Institute of Jainology by Dr L. M. Singhvi, President of the Jain Institute, the main body bringing together the three distinct traditions of the Jains. From the book, Faith in Conservation, by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.
Islamic Faith Statement on Ecology
2003
http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=75
Prepared on behalf of the Muslim World League by Hyder Ihsan Mahasneh, a biologist, Islamic scholar, and the first African head of the Kenya National Parks Service. From the book, Faith in Conservation, by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.
Islamic Declaration on Sustainable Development
September 2002
http://science-islam.net/article.php3?id_article=261&lang=fr
Submitted by the First Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers at the United Nations
World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa
Daoism Faith Statement on Ecology
2003
http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=70
Prepared by The China Daoist Association, based at White Cloud Temple in Beijing, the leading body representing all Daoists in mainland China. It is an authoritative statement by the Association. From the book, Faith in Conservation, by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.
Episcopal Church / Anglican Communion
The Hope We Share: A Vision For Copenhagen
A Statement from the Anglican Communion Environmental Network
http://acen.anglicancommunion.org/index.cfm
October 12, 2009
http://acen.anglicancommunion.org/_userfiles/File/copenhagen_ACEN.pdf
Resolution B002: Response to Global Warming
2007
http://gc2006.org/legislation/view_leg_detail.aspx?id=188&type=ORIGINAL
Common Declaration of Pope Benedict XVI and The Archbishop of Canterbury His Grace Rowan Williams
November 23, 2006
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20061123_common-decl_en.html
Evangelical
Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action
The Evangelical Climate Initiative http://christiansandclimate.org/
February 8, 2006
http://christiansandclimate.org/learn/call-to-action/
Global Warming Briefing for Evangelical Leaders
Evangelical Environmental Network http://www.creationcare.org/
2005
http://www.creationcare.org/files/global_warming_briefing.pdf
On the Care of Creation: An Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation
Evangelical Environmental Network http://www.creationcare.org/
1994
http://www.creationcare.org/resources/declaration.php
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice
1993
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Advocacy/Issues/Environment-and-Energy/Global-Warming-Climate-Change.aspx
National Council of Churches of Christ
Eco-Justice Programs
http://www.nccecojustice.org/globalwarming.htm
Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
Call to Restore the Creation
1990
http://www.pcusa.org/environment/restore.htm
Quaker / Society of Friends
About the Responsibility to Address Global Climate Change
2000
http://www.nccecojustice.org/globalwarmingfriends.htm
Reformed Church in America
Climate Change Update by the Commission on Christian Action
1993
http://www.nccecojustice.org/globalwarmingreformed.htm
Southern Baptist
Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change
The Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative http://www.baptistcreationcare.org/
March 10, 2008
http://www.baptistcreationcare.org/node/1
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
Statement of Conscience on Global Warming/Climate Change
2006
http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/socialjustice/statements/8061.shtml
Beyond Science: Ethical/Religious Dimensions of Global Warming
June 23, 2006
http://uuministryforearth.org/globalwarming/BeyondScienceGA2006.pdf
United Church of Christ
A Resolution on Climate Change
2007
http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/climate-change-final.pdf
United Methodist Church
God’s Creation and the Church
2004
http://archives.umc.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=4&mid=963
Environmental Justice for a Sustainable Future
2004
http://archives.umc.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=4&mid=959
Environmental Stewardship
2000
http://archives.umc.org/interior_print.asp?ptid=4&mid=962
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
The Accra Confession: Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth
2004
http://www.pcusa.org/acswp/pdf/accra.pdf
World Council of Churches
Statement to the high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP11 and COP/MOP1)
December 9, 2005
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/justice-diakonia-and-responsibility-for-creation/climate-change-water/091205-statement-to-cop-11-and-copmop-1.html
Message by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for World Environment Day
June 5, 2009
http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=1071&tla=en
Message by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Synaxis of the Heads of Orthodox Churches
October 10, 2008
http://www.pontificalorientalinstitute.com/newsengl/ne/patriarch-bartholomew-at-the-synaxis-of-the-heads-of-orthodox-churches.html
Message of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Day of the Protection of the Environment
September 1, 2008
http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=970&tla=en
Encyclical of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Day of the Protection of the Environment
September 1, 2006
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/justice-diakonia-and-responsibility-for-creation/climate-change-water/01-09-06-encyclical-of-ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew.html
Common Declaration on Environmental Ethics
Pope John Paul II and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
June 10, 2002
http://212.77.1.243/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2002/june/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20020610_venice-declaration_en.html
The Anchorage Declaration
Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change
Indigenous Environment Network http://www.ienearth.org/
April 24, 2009
http://www.ienearth.org/docs/TheAnchorageDeclaration.pdf
Vision Statement of the First Nations Environmental Network
http://www.fnen.org/?q=node/35
Coming Soon
Encyclical Letter “Caritas in Veritate” of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI on integral human development
June 29, 2009
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html
The St. Francis Pledge
Catholic Climate Covenant http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/
April 22, 2009
http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/the-st-francis-pledge/
Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace
January 1, 2007
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20061208_xl-world-day-peace_en.html
Common Declaration of Pope Benedict XVI and The Archbishop of Canterbury His Grace Rowan Williams
November 23, 2006
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2006/november/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20061123_common-decl_en.html
Common Declaration on Environmental Ethics
Pope John Paul II and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
June 10, 2002
http://212.77.1.243/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2002/june/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20020610_venice-declaration_en.html
Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good
The Catholic Climate Covenant of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/
June 15, 2001
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/globalclimate.shtml#change
Buddhism Faith Statement on Ecology
2003
http://www.arcworld.org/faiths.asp?pageID=66
Prepared by:
From the book, Faith in Conservation, by Martin Palmer with Victoria Finlay, published by the World Bank in 2003.
Full title: Minimum Ethical Criteria for All Post-Kyoto Regime Proposals: What Does Ethics Require of a Copenhagen Outcome?
The Kyoto Protocol http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php, ratified by 184 countries (but not the United States) since its adoption in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, set binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change, amounting to an average of five per cent below 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012. Not only have these targets not been met, but the main provisions of the treaty expire in 2012.
At the UN climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia in December 2007, the international community agreed to negotiate a new climate change regime that will constitute the second commitment period under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/2877.php. The first negotiating session took place in Poznań, Poland in December 2008 and the second is scheduled for December 2009 in Copenhagen. Little progress was made in Poznań on the architecture of the new commitment period, but various proposals were considered on a vision statement to guide negotiations.
This paper, from www.climateethics.org, argues that different post-Kyoto regime proposals may lead to different ethical conclusions but all proposals must satisfy two minimum ethical considerations by:
“Minimum Ethical Criteria for All Post-Kyoto Regime Proposals: What Does Ethics Require of a Copenhagen Outcome?” by Donald A. Brown
http://climateethics.org/?p=50
“Acknowledging the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.”
So states the Preamble to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) http://unfccc.int/essential_background/items/2877.php, the international treaty ratified by 192 countries since its introduction in 1992, which led to the Kyoto Protocol http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php, ratified by 184 countries (but not the United States) since 1997. The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and the international community is struggling to create a new global agreement to replace it at the December 2009 UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in order to give nations time to ratify it before 2012.
The ethical interpretations of the preamble phrase, “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities,” are central to the current impasse in the global climate change negotiations.
Industrialized countries must drastically reduce their emissions and provide finance and technology to assist reduction of emissions in developing countries. Developing countries insist that a solution to climate change cannot come at the expense of their development. Reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in developing nations, primarily in the southern hemisphere, are also necessary, but economic growth and poverty alleviation are inexorably linked to lack of access to energy services – and, consequently, a seemingly inevitable increase in fossil fuel use and thus carbon emissions.
Several frameworks for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change are under consideration. Two of the most promising are “Contraction & Convergence” and “Greenhouse Development Rights.” Both are potentially feasible approaches, and both stress equity, development, mitigation, and adaptation.
Contraction and Convergence
The basic ethical principle of Contraction & Convergence is “equal per capita emission allocation.” It reduces global greenhouse gas emissions so that atmospheric concentrations become stabilized at an agreed safe level (contraction) and distributes the permissible emissions under the contraction on an equal per capita basis globally for all countries (convergence).
For more information on Contraction & Convergence: http://www.gci.org.uk/
To run or download a presentation on Contraction & Convergence:
http://www.gci.org.uk/images/CC_Demo(pc).exe
Greenhouse Development Rights
The basic ethical principle of Greenhouse Development Rights is “ability to pay.” It combines the costs of emissions mitigation and development funding and calculates for each nation a “measurement of responsibility and capacity” based on the percentage of its population above a “development threshold,” or minimum per capita income, and excludes emissions that correspond to consumption from those below the threshold.
For more information on Greenhouse Development Rights: http://www.sei.se/web-resources/greenhouse-development-rights-gdrs.html
For a brief executive summary on Greenhouse Development Rights: http://gdrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/gdrs_execsummary.pdf
The world’s religious traditions must play major roles in enabling societies and individuals to take effective and ethical actions to address the causes and impacts of climate change. After summarizing current climate change knowledge, this paper outlines the pivotal roles of religions on issues of climate change and environmental justice, which hinge primarily on their functions in society and their ethical teachings and influence. The potential of religions to inspire action is then evaluated empirically against data from two compilations of religious activity on climate change. The analysis indicates significant religiously-based involvement and influence on ethical aspects of climate change and points to great potential for the role of religion in future solutions.
“Roles of religion and ethics in addressing climate change” by Paula J. Posas
http://snre.ufl.edu/graduate/files/publicationsbyalumni/Posas2007.pdf
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (LINK TO http://www.ipcc.ch/about/index.htm) assesses the latest scientific, technical, and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC was established in 1988 to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. It does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.
The IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, composed of four volumes (one for each of the IPCC Working Groups and a synthesis report), was published in 2007. The “Summary for Policymakers” of each report is linked below.
To read Working Group I Report: “The Physical Science Basis,” click here:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf
To read Working Group II Report: “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability,” click here:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-spm.pdf
To read Working Group III Report: “Mitigation of Climate Change,” click here:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg3/ar4-wg3-spm.pdf
To read the IPCC Fourth Assessment Synthesis Report, click here:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/syr/ar4_syr_spm.pdf
James Hansen, one of the world’s most eminent climate scientists and director of NASA’S Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City, is nearly certain that the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has already risen beyond safe levels. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 remained between 260 and 280 parts per million for approximately 10,000 years until about 1750, the start of the industrial era. Since then, it is widely acknowledged that human activity has increased the concentration of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHG). The current concentration is 385 parts per million and is rising by 2 ppm per year. Hansen claims that the goal to keep global warming less than two degrees Celsius and GHG concentration at 450 ppm or lower (for which GHG emissions must peak by 2015) is “a recipe for global disaster, not salvation.” He and others are now calling for a level of no more than 350 ppm. This June 2008 article by Hansen came 20 years after his 1998 testimony to Congress, which sounded one of the first alarm bells on the dangers of global warming.
To read “Global Warming Twenty Years Later: Tipping Points Near,” click here:
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2008/TwentyYearsLater_20080623.pdf
Emissions of greenhouse gases must peak by 2015 to limit global temperature increase to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times and avoid dangerous and irreversible effects of climate change, according to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in November 2007. Postponing international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would likely lead to substantially more damage. Delaying the peak emissions date by just one decade (from 2015 to 2025) increases the temperature outcome by approximately 0.5 degrees Centigrade (0.9 Fahrenheit) by 2100. Delaying the peak date another decade (to 2035) increases it a further 0.5o C. This December 2008 article by former IPCC co-chair Martin Parry outlines likely global impacts by 2100 in water, ecosystems, food, coasts, health, and singular events from warming associated with varying amounts of emissions cuts.
To read “The Consequences of Delayed Action of Climate Change,” click here:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pls/portallive/docs/1/53345696.PDF
The global impact of climate change caused by increases of human-generated greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere is largely irreversible for at least 1,000 years, according to a paper published in the February 10, 2009 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Rising sea levels threatening many coastal areas and major droughts in southern Europe, North Africa, the southwestern United States, and western Australia will increase as atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, and persist long after they hit peak levels. The paper, “Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions,” is based on research led by Susan Solomon at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The “Bathtub Effect” visually illustrates why stabilizing emissions of greenhouse gases will not immediately stabilize the climate. Think of the atmosphere as a bathtub with a partially opened drain. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fuels and destruction of forests – the faucet – are flowing into the tub twice as fast as they are being absorbed by plants and the ocean – the drain. Meanwhile, the “sinks” – forests and oceans that absorb greenhouse gases – are becoming saturated, so the drain is clogged up.
For an interactive visual demonstration of the Bathtub Effect, click here:
http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/watch/climate_change/anim/challenge/index.htm
To read more on the Greenhouse Effect and the Bathtub Effect, click here:
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/the-greenhouse-effect-and-the-bathtub-effect/
To read the paper, “Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions,” click here:
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/01/28/0812721106.full.pdf+html
Directors:
John Grim and Mary Evelyn Tucker
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
www.yale.edu/religionandecology
Overview:
The Forum on Religion and Ecology is the largest international multireligious project of its kind. With its conferences, publications, and website it is engaged in exploring religious worldviews, texts, ethics, and practices in order to broaden understanding of the complex nature of current environmental concerns. The Forum recognizes that religions need to be in dialogue with other disciplines (e.g., science, economics, education, public policy) in seeking comprehensive solutions to both global and local environmental problems.
Objectives:
The objectives of the Forum on Religion and Ecology are to create a new academic field of study that has implications for environmental policy. To this end, the Forum has organized conferences, published books and articles, and developed a world class international web site on religion and ecology. In collaboration with the ecological sciences, the Forum is helping to identify the ethical dimensions by which the religions of the world can respond to the growing environmental crisis. In addition, inspired by the work of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme, the Forum is creating a film called Journey of the Universe that will provide an integrating framework for understanding the story of the universe and the Earth from the perspectives of science and religion. This will ground environmental transformation in an evolutionary perspective regarding our profound relatedness to and dependence on the larger Earth community.
Origin:
Grim and Tucker initiated this work with a series of conferences on religion and ecology from 1996-1998 at Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions. Over 800 environmentalists and international scholars of the world’s religions participated. Ten volumes resulted that were published by Harvard. A concluding series of conferences were held at Harvard including one on world religions and animals (published by Columbia University Press), one on the ecological imagination with Orion magazine, one on world religions and climate change published by Daedalus.
Results:
Ten years ago religion and ecology was neither a field of study nor a force for transformation. Over the last decade a new field of study has emerged within academia with courses being taught at colleges and high schools across North America and in some universities in Europe. Canada and Europe now have their own Forums and Australia is planning one. Moreover, a new force of religious environmentalism is growing in churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques around the world. Now every major religion has statements on the importance of ecological protection and hundreds of grassroots projects have emerged. The Forum on Religion and Ecology has played an active role in these developments.
Major accomplishments of the Forum over the last ten years:
Establishing the Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University: 2006 – present
