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Pope Benedict XVI stands in front of the Dome of the Rock, on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City - Source: Reuters -
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Leaders of every major faith in Britain have called for
governments to secure a climate change deal in Copenhagen, saying
it was morally imperative to tackle the causes of global warming
which most affected the poor.
In the first statement of its kind, faith community leaders
including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist,
called for the British and G20 governments in particular to fight
for an ambitious deal.
They called for measures which would help keep global temperature
rises to within 2 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels, by
reducing reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
"Faith communities have a crucial role to play in pressing for
changes in behaviour at every level of society and in every
economic sector," the joint statement said.
"We recognise unequivocally that there is a moral imperative to
tackle the causes of global warning. This is reinforced by the
reality that it is the poor and vulnerable who are most profoundly
affected."
They pledged to work together to raise awareness about the effects
of catastrophic climate change, including droughts, floods, water
shortage and rising sea levels, and pressed for changes in
behaviour.
World leaders will meet at the UN climate change conference in
Copenhagen in December to discuss expanding or replacing the Kyoto
Protocol, whose first phase ends in 2012, amid dire warnings about
the possible consequences of failure.
British government ministers warned earlier this month that a
possible global average temperature rise of four degrees Celsius on
pre-industrial levels, possibly reached by 2100 or earlier, could
result in wars over water and food and mass migration.
Britain was the first country to set legally-binding emissions
targets.
It wants to cut its output of planet-warming gases by 34% by
2020, from 1990 levels, through cleaner transport and more energy
efficient homes and workplaces.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband, told the "Faith
and the Environment" meeting at Lambeth Palace, in London, said:
"Tackling climate change is a cause that unites people of all
faiths. We need the voice of all the world's religions as we
approach the Copenhagen summit."
The Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed churches of Britain
issued a separate statement on Thursday in which they called on
European leaders, currently meeting in Brussels, to agree to cuts
of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020, without extensive use of
carbon offsets.
"Developed nations have benefited most from cheap fossil fuels and
we must now lead on developing low carbon futures for all," Martyn
Atkins, general secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain, said
in a joint statement.
Talks ahead of Copenhagen are split on how big carbon cuts rich
nations should make by 2020, and how much they should pay
developing countries to prepare for and slow global warming.
The European Commission estimates developing countries will need
about 100 billion euros annually by 2020 to tackle climate
change.
