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Archbishop Rowan Williams, head of the 77-million strong Anglican Communion, told participants Tuesday at an ecumenical gathering that a clear moral vision is needed to deal with global warming.
“Ultimately the control of climate change, ultimately the welfare of the environment is an issue of survival for everybody,” Williams said in a video statement to Christian leaders gathered in Bali, Indonesia, according to Ecumenical News International.
“It is not a question that can be addressed by one society alone, by one religious tradition alone, by one state alone. It’s something that demands collaboration,” said the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He warned that God’s justice is timeless and giving priority to present generations over future generations was an unjust act, which God will judge.
Williams urged faith communities to uphold a “clear moral vision” to governments and societies in their climate change advocacy, according to ENI.
“This will mean real challenges to developed and prosperous societies, real challenges to let go of some of their security, and some of their prosperity,” said Williams. “We should be under no illusion that this will be an easy task.”
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The ecumenical gathering took place alongside the U.N. Climate Change Conference where representatives of over 180 countries are aiming to start discussion on a new framework to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The Protocol had set a binding reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions – the main cause of global warming – to 5 percent below 1990 levels. Over 150 countries signed the Kyoto Protocol and pledged to cut its emissions.
However, the United States refused to sign the Protocol because it argued mandatory cuts in emissions would harm the economy. The U.S. had also questioned the validity of global warming science, but has recently softened its stance after a new report by a Nobel-Peace winning panel of scientists declared global warming “unequivocal” and warned of catastrophic natural disasters if actions are not immediately taken.
Currently, negotiators in Bali are trying to engage the United States, the biggest greenhouse gas emitter, in discussion for the new framework. Kyoto Protocol signers hope the United States will participate in the next international climate change protocol.
A draft circulating Monday included guidelines calling for rich industrialized countries to cut emission by 25 to 40 percent by 2020 – a reduction meant to keep with recommendations by the U.N. scientific panel to avoid devastating environmental disasters, according to The Times of London.
U.S. negotiators said they will not support the proposed emission cut figures because they want to keep their options open as negotiations are expected to take place over the next two years, according to The Times.
“The biggest challenge that faces us in terms of global policy is how we are to find ways of reducing and controlling climate change without eating into the economic aspirations, the proper aspirations of our poorer societies, towards prosperity, respect and dignity,” Williams acknowledged.
Williams’ message was played after an ecumenical service, organized by the World Council of Churches, at the U.N. conference on climate change. Ecumenical services have taken place at the annual conference since 1995.
The Bali conference is said to be the biggest-ever climate change gathering with some 10,000 participants.
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