This may interest some - apologies for any cross-posting. D David Ballard Director Alexander Ballard Ltd Strategy and Human Change for Environmental Sustainability ============================================ Swindon Innovation Centre, Oakfield Campus, Marlowe Avenue, SWINDON SN3 3JR ============================================ 01793 329936 (direct); 07840 544226 (mobile) 01793 329912 (fax); 01672 520561 (home office) www.alexanderballard.co.uk; [log in to unmask] Company no. 5991530, VAT No. 896 8698 21 ________________________________ From: Peter Reason [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Fri 11/05/2007 07:27 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: FW: Pontifical Council on Climate Change and Development Please see below P Peter Reason Director Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice School of Management University of Bath Bath BA2 7AY, UK Tel: +44-1225-386792 Fax: +44-1225-386473 http://www.bath.ac.uk/~mnspwr http://www.bath.ac.uk/carpp Handbook of Action Research http://www.sagepub.co.uk <http://www.sagepub.co.uk/> Journal of Action Research http://arj.sagepub.co.uk <http://arj.sagepub.co.uk/> -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 10 May 2007 20:49 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Pontifical Council on Climate Change and Development Dear colleagues, On April 26-27, 2007 the Vatican hosted a conference on climate change and development. Organized by the Pontifical Commission on Justice and Peace, it involved some 40 participants and 40 observers. It included scholars, scientists, and environmental ministers, as well as bishops of the Catholic and Anglican Churches, representatives of Catholic religious orders and from other ecclesial bodies representing some 20 countries. Mary Evelyn and John were invited participants and Mary Evelyn was able to attend. This email is intended to provide a sense of the conference from news articles and from a report of a participant who was representing the World Council of Churches, Martin Robra. The positive news from the conference is that it appears that the Pope will write an encyclical on the environment. A number of theologians and clergy at the conference spoke of the need for such an encyclical as well as for an ecumenical statement on the environment from the Christian churches. The unsettling aspect of the conference was the over representation of climate skeptics. Their outspoken dismissal of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) reports caused concern among many of those present. Mary Evelyn and several others voiced objections to this position. Fortunately in his closing statement, the President of the Pontifical Commission, Cardinal Renato Martino, acknowledged that climate change is a serious problem which is already causing suffering to the poor. It seemed clear that the Vatican would not ignore the urgent need for precautionary measures of care for creation. In addition, there was an expression of concern to mitigate the impact of environmental problems on people around the world, especially the poor. This is good news indeed. With all good wishes, Mary Evelyn & John ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace Study Seminar on Climate Change and Development April 26-27, 2007 Vatican City, Rome Report by Martin Robra 1. Introduction Inaugurating the seminar, Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, expressed his wish for "a fruitful exchange of experiences, in a climate of serenity and composure, and an in-depth dialogue and disinterested research." He emphasized the necessary balance between environmental education and the development of people in need. Humanity's dominion over creation must not be despotic or irresponsible according to the Cardinal. Cardinal Martino read a telegram signed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State. In this telegram, Pope Benedict XVI urged everyone to adopt "a way of living, models of production and consumption marked by respect for creation and the need for sustainable development of peoples, keeping in mind the universal distribution of goods, as is so often mentioned in the Church's social doctrine." He expressed "sincere appreciation" for this meeting, which will study the "problems relating to the environment, ethics, economics and the political and social life with repercussions for the weakest members of society." 2. Calls to respond to the challenge of climate change by government representatives Following the French Ambassador for the Environment, Mr. Laurent Steffanini, who spoke on the history of the debate on climate change, the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, R. Hon. David Miliband, MP, underlined that climate change must be tackled through a coalition grounded in morality and ethics. There needed to be a worldwide "ecological conversion", a mobilization of governments, businesses and citizens, and a need to change the way people live, work and travel. Efforts to mitigate climate change require a sense of solidarity with the developing world and future generations. The UK Secretary of State called for 2007 to be the year when the international community injects new momentum into the development of an international framework that can follow the end of the first Kyoto commitment period in 2012: "The truth is that without global confidence in the commitment of governments to put a price on carbon, to agree a set of long-term commitments for long-term emissions reduction ... businesses or citizens will not have the drive and the critical mass to arrest the growth of greenhouse gases." The UK had successfully broken the link between economic growth and pollution growth, he said. "Our economy as a whole has grown by over 25% since 1997, but our greenhouse gas emissions have been cut by 8%," he observed. 3. Scientific presentations Professor Stefan Rahmstorf of the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research introduced the basis of climate science and results presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), which have recently received wide attention by the media and the public. He was the only scientist invited who had contributed to the IPCC report which involves about 2500 scientists in a very transparent and publicly accountable process. The Italian nuclear physicist Professor Antonino Zichichi followed as the first in a series of presentations by "climate skeptics" with, at times, strong attacks on the IPCC. "Climate skeptics" were very well represented in this conference. Prof. Zichichi stressed the complexity of climate change and questioned the scientific standards of climate science. According to him, climate modeling is not sound science. Fred Singer (USA), who previously had links to the tobacco and oil industries, raised doubt concerning the empirical basis of climate research. Dr. Craig Idso (US) praised the benefits of carbon dioxide for the growth of plants, which could contribute to respond to hunger and the pressures of population growth. Professor Claudio Rafanelli presented various options re energy production, while also rejecting some of the insights of the IPCC. Two other contributions the following day by Italian participants who were not listed on the programme showed a similar emphasis. 4. Climate Change and Politics The Polish Minister of the Environment, Hon. Mr. Jan Syszko, focused on sustainable development and the role of forests as carbon sinks. The Argentinian Ambassador, Raul Estrada Oyuela, who is known as the diplomat who led the negotiations of the Kyoto Protocol through many of its difficulties to its conclusion, presented an analysis of the climate change negotiations and the options pursued at present. His paper is very useful for those engaged in reflections and action concerning the post 2012 framework of climate change negotiations. He pointed to the need for a precise assessment of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol which might require the acceptance of a gap regarding the regulative framework. European countries insist on avoiding such a gap in order to ensure continuity of emission trading schemes. Ambassador Estrada, however, criticized their approach to emission trading as flawed, showing no encouraging results. 5. A single voice of people affected Ms Sharon Looremeta, a Masaai women from Kenya, was the only voice from one of the communities that is already now effected by the consequences of climate change in severe ways. Her call for a clearly committed engagement of civil society - including churches and other faith communities - was strongly attacked by some of the "climate skeptics" as an unfounded plea for aid. Her presentation resonated well with a contribution made by Archbishop Paul Ruzoka from Tanzania that he shared during the discussion in an earlier session. 6. Theological perspectives Dr. Calvin Beissner (US) argued along the lines of Dr. Idso and Prof. Singer but framed his contribution theologically. His approach was strongly questioned by theologians around the table for an insufficient exegetical and systematic basis. The quality of theological and ecumenical presentations that were presented by Bishop Dr. Bernd Uhl (Germany), Lic. Elias Abramides (Argentina-speaking for the World Council of Churches), the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones (England), and the Australian Bishop Christopher Toohey rescued the conference that was in clear danger of being side tracked by the debate on climate science as promoted by climate skeptics. Bishop Uhl stated: "Climate change is one of the signs of the times affecting the Catholic Church as a global organization. The Catholic Church must take a stand on this present-day and urgent question." He carefully examined the sources of the social doctrine of the Roman Catholic church and recent statements of relevance to the debate by the Pope, but also by National Catholic bishops conferences in some countries, including the United States and Australia. He urged that the time had come for an encyclical, the highest form of papal writing, on "the future of creation." Such an encyclical would "energize" Catholics, other believers and world opinion on climate change and the environment as a whole. Bishop Toohey complemented his statement adding insights gained on his life-journey and in his pastoral ministry in draught stricken Australia. It was mentioned that Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to speak to Italian youth on September 1, 2007 (Creation Day) and that this would be one of the opportunities for the Pope to address climate change. Cardinal Martino also shared the information that the Pope is considering addressing climate change and its devastating consequences during the visit by George W. Bush, in June immediately after the G8 meeting in Germany. Elias Abramides stressed that climate change was a "deeply spiritual issue". "We believe that the solutions to the problem will not only be of a political, technological and economic nature`As Christians ... we need to recognize and accept the intimate ethical and deeply religious implications of climate change. It is a matter of justice, it is a matter of equity, and it is a matter of love: love for God the Almighty, love for the neighbor, love for creation." He shared detailed information on the work of the World Council of Churches' climate change programme. Bishop James Jones not only made a rhetorically impressive and exegetically reflective presentation on the necessity for the churches to act on climate change (adding inspiring examples from his diocese), but also called on the Roman Catholic church and Pope Benedict XVI to speak publicly on climate change as an ethical challenge to Christians and people of faith together with other church leaders, e.g. the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The meeting was closed with a statement by Cardinal Martino saying that climate change is a reality, but a complex one that requires more scientific study. In engaging with climate change as a moral issue the Roman Catholic church could build on its very well developed social teaching. Compared to this cautious statement at the end of the seminar, the Cardinal made some more pronounced comments to the press. It was the sincere hope of many of the participants, especially the bishops and government representatives who spoke, that the Vatican would clearly focus on the ethical and moral challenges posed by climate change in a clear and strong way - hopefully not alone, but together with other churches that have taken a lead on the issue for several years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ UNEP Articles Related to the Study Seminar on Climate Change April 27, 2007 Pope Should Talk Climate Change With Bush Cardinal VATICAN CITY - A senior adviser to Pope Benedict said on Thursday he believes the Pontiff should raise the dangers of climate change and global warming with US President George W. Bush when the two meet in June. Cardinal Renato Martino told reporters on the sidelines of a Vatican-sponsored scientific conference on climate change that religious leaders around the world should remind members of their flocks that wilfully damaging the environment is sinful. Bush is due to meet Benedict at the Vatican in June while the US president is in Europe for a Group of Eight (G8) summit when Germany, the current G8 president, wants to forge an international agreement on combating climate change. "It's not for me to say what the Pope and President Bush should discuss but certainly they will discuss current issues and therefore I imagine and I hope they will (discuss climate change)," Martino said. "It certainly merits it," said Martino, who, as head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is the Pope's point man for social issues such as the environment. The Bush administration, which did not sign up to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate change, has long been reluctant to curb the greenhouse gases blamed for swelling sea levels and causing droughts as well as floods. Bush pulled out of the treaty, which Washington had signed under the previous, Democratic, administration, saying it would damage the economy and was unfair as it did not require rapidly developing nations like China and India to stem emissions. In a message to conference participants, including British Environment Secretary David Miliband, the Pope said he hoped studies could lead to "lifestyles and production and consumer methods that aim to respect creation and (aim for) sustainable progress". In recent years, the world's major religions have gone green in the race to save the planet. Asked if wilful damage of the environment is a sin, Martino said: "Yes, because not using the environment correctly is an offence not only against yourself but against all others who make use of the environment." He said all religious groups should be involved in environmental causes and raise awareness about global warming. "We have to start at the level of elementary schools, to make sure children are taught to respect nature and be aware of the problems of the world. We can't wait until they are older. This has to be done naturally in religion classes, in religious groups everywhere," Martino said. Story by Philip Pullella Reuters: Story Date: 27/4/2007 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect God's creation: Vatican issues new green message for world's Catholics · Pope addresses climate change conference · US church leaders lobby Bush on global warming John Vidal and Tom Kington in Rome Friday April 27, 2007 Guardian The Vatican yesterday added its voice to a rising chorus of warnings from churches around the world that climate change and abuse of the environment is against God's will, and that the one billion-strong Catholic church must become far greener. At a Vatican conference on climate change, Pope Benedict urged bishops, scientists and politicians - including UK environment secretary David Miliband - to "respect creation" while "focusing on the needs of sustainable development". The Pope's message follows a series of increasingly strong statements about climate change and the environment, including a warning earlier this year that "disregard for the environment always harms human coexistence, and vice versa". Observers said yesterday that the Catholic church is no longer split between those who advocate development and those who say the environment is the priority. Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, head of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, said: "For environment ... read Creation. The mastery of man over Creation must not be despotic or senseless. Man must cultivate and safeguard God's Creation." According to Vatican sources, the present Pope is far more engaged in the green debate than John Paul. In the past year Benedict has spoken strongly on the need to preserve rainforests. In the next few weeks he visits Brazil. "There is no longer a schism. The new interest in climate change and the environment is not surprising really. Benedict comes out of 1960s Germany, where environment and disarmament were major issues. It's conceivable that his ministry could even culminate in a papal encyclical on the environment," said one analyst. This would be the most powerful signal to the world's Catholics about the need for environmental awareness at every level. The Catholic church is just one major faith group now rapidly moving environment to the fore of its social teachings. "Climate change, biotechnology, trade justice and pollution are all now being debated at a far higher level by the world's major religions," said Martin Palmer, secretary general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (Arc). In some cases the debate is dividing traditionalists from younger congregations. In the US the diverse 50m-strong conservative evangelical churches are increasingly at war about the human contribution to global warming. Many evangelical leaders say they are still not convinced that global warming is human-induced and have argued that the collapse of the world is inevitable and will herald the second coming of Christ. But most younger leaders have broken ranks. About four years ago the progressives began to argue strongly that man had a responsibility to steward the earth. Redefining environmentalism as "creation care", they are now lobbying President Bush and the US administration to take global warming far more seriously. "They are the most effective lobby," said one observer yesterday. "They represent the conservative vote so Bush has to listen to them." Although the World Council of Churches in Geneva has had a department to investigate climate change since 1990, churches have come late to the debate. "The is a no-brainer, but we are all only now realising it", said Claire Foster, environmental policy adviser to the Church of England. Many faiths also realise their potential to influence politicians and financiers. A survey by US bank Citigroup found that the 11 major faiths now embrace 85% of the world's population and are the world's third largest group of financial investors. In the US the United methodist church pension fund alone is worth $12bn-$15bn (£6bn-£7bn). Total investment of US churches is nearly $70bn. Switching to ethical investments would be hugely significant. One Catholic priest impatient for change is Seán McDonagh, a Columban missionary and author of books on ecology and religion. "The Catholic church's social teaching on human rights and justice has been good, but there has been little concern about the impact on the planet. The church has been caught up on its emphasis on development and on resisting population control, but if we are pro-life we should be banging the drum now about climate change." Backstory Most of the world's mainstream faiths have at their core a deep respect for nature, but over hundreds of years many have developed an ambivalent attitude towards ecology and the pressures put on the earth by humans. Church leaders have largely stayed silent on the extinction of species and natural capital and have concentrated their ethical teachings on the need to relieve human poverty. But the reality of impending climate change and the effects it will have on the poor is concentrating minds and causing many to fundamentally reassess their understanding of man's place in the world. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ April 28, 2007 CINCINNATI CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH Ohio Catholic Conference faces global warming issues Vatican ambassador encourages voluntary simplicity to reverse climate change COLUMBUS, Ohio - Every Catholic can do something about climate change by adopting a life of voluntary simplicity, believes the Vatican's ambassador to the United Nations. It comes down to "working less, wanting less, spending less," thus reducing the impact each person has on the environment, Archbishop Celestino Migliore told the second in a series of regional Catholic conversations on climate change Saturday. Citing Genesis' call to humanity to oversee creation and protect it and the church's social doctrine, the Vatican diplomat outlined the Holy See's position on the need for Catholics to heed the environmental dangers facing the planet. "The denigration of the environment has become an inescapable reality," the archbishop said. "There is no doubt that the latest assessment has established a strong connection between human activity and climate change," he said, referring to the February statement by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Archbishop Migliore acknowledged that although not all scientists agree that climate change is occurring, other environmental threats, such as indiscriminate deforestation, water pollution, the lack of potable water in parts of the world and depletion of fish stocks, demand action from the world community and individual Catholics alike. "We need to drink deep from this frustrating foundation of knowledge and wisdom, known as the aggressive and progressive degradation of the environment, that has become an inescapable reality," he said. Archbishop Migliore called God's placing of humans in the Garden of Eden with the instruction of not only taming nature, but keeping, or preserving, it as well. God's instruction was not so much a commandment but a blessing "to perfect, not destroy, the cosmos," he said. Any steps to protect the environment must depend on more than the use of technology and traditional economics but also on "ethical, social and religious values as well," he said. Likewise, any corrective steps require turning to people in the developing world, especially those living in dire poverty, and making decisions with their advice and consent, the papal nuncio said. "With humans open to love, creation becomes the place for the mutual exchange of gifts among people," he said. The Ohio conference was the second of three gatherings across the country to address the Catholic response to climate change. The first was in Florida last month and the third will be June 2 in Anchorage, Alaska. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is convening representatives from across a broad swatch of society for a sustained and thoughtful discussion on climate change. Saturday's 14 conference reflected that desire, with representatives from utility companies, a consumer group, environmental organizations, agriculture, higher education, state government, local parishes and diocesan social action offices on hand. Daniel Misleh, executive director of the 10-month-old Catholic Coalition on Climate Change and a conference planner, said the bishops are looking to take steps that "make sense" and that are consistent with Catholic values. The USCCB is a major supporter of the coalition along with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Catholic Women, National Catholic Rural Life Conference and Catholic Health Association of the United States. "The public policy remedies are very complicated," Misleh said. "We're more in a mode of learning and listening instead of a mode of prescribing solutions." He expects it will be at least six months before the bishops back any of the climate change bills pending in Congress. Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat and a United Methodist minister, was on hand and briefly discussed his goals to reduce energy consumption throughout state government. In an interview, Strickland said he has ordered energy audits of all state buildings with the goal of being an example for local governments, agencies, school districts and individual homeowners across the state. "We can educate and inform people (about what needs to be done). It will take many small steps by many individuals," Strickland said. "They're small steps, but if taken in a collective way, they can lead to significant results," he added. "No one person can take steps that are going to have a dramatic impact (climate change), but a lot of raindrops create an ocean." As the third largest contributor of greenhouse gases in the United States, Ohio can take a leading role in reducing airborne pollutants that are said to be the primary cause of climate change, according to conference planners. Jim Tobin, associate director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, is hoping the information that conference delegates obtained will be spread to parishes throughout the state. At the same time, Tobin and others stressed the importance of addressing climate change because of its impact - which is already being felt - on the world's poor and other vulnerable people. That concern, repeated throughout Saturday, is rooted in the church's social teaching. Marianist Sister Leanne Jablonski, director of the Marinist Environmental Education Center in Dayton, outlined a broad base of statistical information, ala Al Gore's Academy Award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," on sources of greenhouse gases and the implications of climate change. She painted a grim picture of Ohio's role in the climate change scenario. Facts she offered include: Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 37 percent, corresponding to the industrial age. The United States has less than 4 percent of the world's population but contributes 25 percent of the worlds' greenhouse gas emissions. As the country's 11th largest state, Ohio has 4 percent of the U.S. population but produces 1 percent of the world's greenhouse gases annually. Ohio is sixth in the U.S. in energy consumption; third in coal consumption and fourth in electricity usage. Despite the grim realities, Sister Jablonski challenged the delegates to be hopeful while answering the call to care for God's creation. Hope, she said, can be found in the sacred places of life, places where God can be found - a favorite garden, a park, a favorite childhood gathering place. In the same way, she tied sacramental life to the beauty of the environment - the clear waters of baptism, the grain and the fields that produces the bread of Eucharist and the dignity of farmworkers who harvest the grapes for wine. "We have to live in solidarity, and we have a responsibility to future generations," she said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ April 29, 2007 Religion Must Help Protect Planet, Conference Says VATICAN CITY, 28 April (Reuters) - God wants believers to be green. That's the message emerging from a Vatican conference on climate change which was the latest sign of growing concern by religious groups around the world over the fate of the planet. Scientists, environment ministers and leaders of various religions from 20 countries sat down for two days to discuss the implications of global warming and development. While the scientists spoke of the dynamics of greenhouse gasses, temperature patterns, rain forests and exhaust emissions, the men and women of religion discussed the moral and theological aspects of protecting the environment. The conference, organised by the Vatican's Council for Justice and Peace, marked the most significant plunge to date by the Roman Catholic Church -- the world's largest Christian grouping -- into one of the hottest contemporary topics. "Climate change is one of the signs of the times affecting the Catholic Church as a global organisation. The Catholic Church must take a stand on this present-day and urgent question," said Bishop Bernd Uhl of Freiburg, Germany. In recent years, the world's major religions have gone more green in the race to save the planet, which they teach mankind has in stewardship and must protect for future generations. Over the past year, some evangelical Protestant churches in the United States -- strong conservative backers of President George W. Bush -- have broken ranks with the White House to call for urgent measures to protect the environment. National Catholic bishops conferences in some countries, including the United States and Australia, have issued statements or pastoral letters on climate change and the need to protect what most religions see as "the gift of creation". PAPAL ENCYCLICAL ON GLOBAL WARMING? Uhl said the time had come for an encyclical, the highest form of papal writing, on what he called "the future of creation". He said it would "energize" Catholics, other believers and world opinion on climate change. Bishop Christopher Toohey of Australia said believers should "have the courage and motivation under God's grace to do what we need to do to safeguard this garden planet". Elias Abramides, a Greek Orthodox member of the World Council of Churches (WCC), told the gathering climate change was a "deeply spiritual issue" rooted in the scriptures. "We believe that the solutions to the problem will not only be of a political, technological and economic nature. We believe that ethics and religion will necessarily become essential components on which the solutions will be based," he said. "As Christians ... we need to recognise and accept the intimate ethical and deeply religious implications of climate change. It is a matter of justice, it is a matter of equity, and it is a matter of love: love for God the Almighty, love for the neighbour, love for creation," Abramides said. The WCC groups some 550 million Christians from 340 non-Catholic Christian churches, denominations and fellowships. Story by Philip Pullella Story Date: 30/4/2007 -- If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, http://religionandecology.org/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=b0b2fc79626690b09151f a515b1f0385 To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit http://religionandecology.org/lists/?p=preferences&uid=b0b2fc79626690b09151f a515b1f0385 Forward a Message to Someone http://religionandecology.org/lists/?p=forward&uid=b0b2fc79626690b09151fa515 b1f0385&mid=15 -- Powered by PHPlist, www.phplist.com -- ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email ______________________________________________________________________