2008-12-02/Inter-faith manifesto calls for 90% emissions cuts in 2050 from 1990 level in rich countries
By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 2nd December 2008
Leaders of many religions share the concerns of scientists and political leaders about ‘the alarming climate crisis’. But religious leaders not represented at the Interfaith Climate Summit at Uppsala at the end of November say there should have been broader representation.
Leaders and teachers from 26 religions from around the world - including Buddhists, Christians, Daoists, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs - have called on the global political leadership and international organisations to take several steps to heal the planet Earth, with the rich countries shouldering more of the responsibilities than poor countries.
“The world religions are a source of empowerment for change in lifestyles and patterns of consumption,” the signers of the manifesto said. “Religious faith remains a powerful force for good among a considerable number of the human family. We undertake this mission in a spirit of responsibility and faith.”
They regard life on planet Earth as a miracle and a gift.
“In the history of the Earth, the climate has always varied,” they added. “However, we are very concerned about the huge human impact on the Earth’s very complex and sensitive climate system. Today, humanity constitutes a major force which changes the preconditions of life and welfare for most creatures on the planet. We know enough to realise that we need to act now in the interest of future generations.”
Calling the situation “critical”, with melting glaciers and permafrost areas, and devastating droughts and floods striking people and ecosystems, especially in the south, the religious leaders asked whether the planet Earth can be healed.
“We are convinced that the answer is ‘yes’,” they said. “Major transformations in understanding human life, lifestyles and work modes, economy, trade and technology are needed. Ethics and values are intrinsic to the development of new institutional structures and architectures of politics and finance. In the religious realm, long-sightedness has always been important. More than ever before the world now needs extraordinary, long-sighted political leadership.”
The Interfaith Climate Manifesto calls on “governments and international organisations to prepare and agree upon a comprehensive climate strategy for the Copenhagen Agreement.”
The Copenhagen Agreement from 1992 must counteract misuse of land, of forests, and of farmland, using creative incentives for landowners, users and indigenous communities to manage growing forests as carbon sinks, the religious leaders explained.
The strategy to be prepared by the governments and organisations “must be ambitious enough to keep climate change below 2° Celsius,” the manifesto said, and should “distribute the burden in an equitable way in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.”
In particular, the religious leaders asked the global political leadership for:
• Rapid and large emission cuts in the rich world. Developed countries, especially those in Europe and North America, must lead the way, reducing their emissions by at least 40% by 2020 and 90% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels.
• Binding cuts for the rich world on top of their domestic obligations. According to the principles of responsibility and capability countries should pay for international cuts in addition to their own domestic initiatives. These payments should be obligatory, rather than voluntary.
• Measurable, verifiable and reportable mitigation actions by developing countries, especially countries with fast-growing economies.
• Massive transfers and sharing of important technology. All countries must encourage and facilitate the sharing of technology that is intrinsically important to reducing emissions. Developing countries must have viable and technologically responsible opportunities to provide for their populations.
• Economic incentives for developing countries to foster cleaner development on a national scale.
• Adaptation to climate change. Rich countries must ensure that poor and vulnerable communities are empowered and supported. Adaptation to climate change must not fail for want of money or other resources.
Although the Church of Sweden was praised for arranging the summit and preparing the manifesto, the Interfaith Climate Summit, held in Uppsala in Sweden on 28th and 29th November, has been criticised for an allegedly unfair representation of various religions on its list of select international invitees.
Acclaimed Hindu and Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed said that it was commendable to see diverse religious leaders, religions and denominations coming together to bless the environmental causes in Uppsala. But, he added, the organisers should have given adequate and fair representation to other major world religions.
“Hindus represent about 14% of world population but there was only one Hindu name in the list of 29 world faith leaders signing the manifesto”, said Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism. “Hinduism is the oldest and the third-largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought. It should not be taken lightly.”
Some other world religions, including Bahaism, Jainism, Shintoism, Confucianism and Zoroastrianism, were not represented at all, he added.
Because of the unfair treatment to certain faith groups, Rajan Zed argued that the manifesto would not carry “the expected moral strength” when it is presented to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development next year in New York, various world governments, and religious networks.
Purposes of the summit included “to communicate an urgent, hopeful, ethical-religious message to the global community about the need… to slow down global warming,” he said.
“How can the summit message be effective globally when many communities went unrepresented or under-represented?” Zed asked. “How can we share the responsibility when many major faith groups representing large chunks of population are simply ignored?”
“Faiths have an influence on people over the whole world,” said Margot Wallström, a vice president of the EU Commission, who also attended the summit. “I hope that this manifesto can pressure the various nations and goverments to reach an proper agreement at the climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009.”
US president elect Barack Obama said Washington has failed to show leadersip in the climate area, “But I will change that.” Addressing the summit on video, Obama said, “Delays and denunciation are no longer a possibility. I am not the president yet, but once I have been inaugurated, you will have an ally in Washington.”