FAB - the new black!

Everybody says FAB in Copenhagen these days. And it is not about fabulous people or clothes. It stands for Fair Ambitious and Binding. That is what a new treaty must deliver. But the problem is that everybody seems to have their own interpretation of Fair Ambitious and Binding.

Faith participation here in Copenhagen stress the justice aspect on climate change. This means that the developed countries must do their homework and cut their emissions radically. But the figures that is on the table is not enough to reach the goal to stay under a 2 degree increase. And since the developed countries have built their well fare on fossil fuels to a huge amount they also ave a greater responsibility to act first and rapidly.
EU is not so fabulous as they want to appear to. Instead of taking the lead and announce that they understood what is at stake and raise their ambitions and say at least 30% cut of emissions to 2020 and do it domestic, they points at China and US and say you must raise your ambitions. That is not taking the lead that is being a coward.
Come on you EU guys! Show some guts and be brave! That would challenge China and the US. Everbody want´s to be in the winning team, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu says, so start the move and become a FAB!

Lights of hope in Copenhagen

Now the time is running up for COP 15 in Copenhagen. The next 48 hours are pivotal to the way the world will take. To be true; We can not await the best treaty in the world and that everything will be changed to a 100% sustainable path. But this is the time to bend the development of the world to a little more sustainable way.
Last Sunday people of different Christian denominations came together in the cathedral of our lady in Copenhagen to pray and to stress the fact that we need a different way of viewing our life. To change from greed to sharing, from confrontation to love. Let´s hope that the outcome on Friday (or Saturday) will be a start of a new way of working together and create a more just and sustainable world.

Largest Climate Summit Ever!

We are many people gathered in Copenhagen these days. They say that about 45 000 have accreditation to the meeting. But the resources to get people in seems to be closer to 450 than 45 000. People got stuck in the very bad organised line outside the Bella Center. And now they will not let more then a few of the NGO.s come in to the center. Today 7000 tomorrow maybe half that much and the last day, Friday, 90 persons!
The negotiations are more or less stuck which is more or less normal at meetings like this. Heads of states are flying the next days and they all looking for an opportunity to win some political credits from the world by putting a better offer on the table. And everybody wants to come close to Obama that will be here in the end of the week.
I am concerned over the lack of initiative from the Swedish EU presidency and the way they are attacking the developing countries for not accepting the bid from the industrial countries. The truth is that those with the best capacity to walk the low carbon path are the developed countries and they have to start and do their homework and then support the developing countries to take a leap over the carbon-step of development. There is a moral obligation to start were there is capacity to act and not first put the pressure on developing countries to act.

Countdown manifestation done and the bells ringed!

Today the Countdown to Copenhagen was delivered to UNFCCC executive secr. Yves de Boer by Desmond Tutu. A great moment for the campaign.
Now we just need to see some major steps for the negotiations at the Bella Center. But we probably have to wait until the heads of states will show up in the end of the week. Everybody wants to shine and get the image of being the saviour.
Look at the clip and you might be inspired by Desmond Tutus speech

In the panel from the left side Firmin Adjahousso, Satu Hassi, Sara Hlukepile Longwe, Henrik Grape, Clarisse Kehler Siebert and the moderator Anders Wijkmann

The European Development Days are over for this time and for the first time in Stockholm, Sweden.
I contributed to this panel on Climate Change and a fair treaty in Copenhagen. A good thing with this panel was that we were not just talking about "the other" not present but the panel had representation from Africa (man an woman) from the EU institutions from research and faith community. This was a broad perspective and I think that is needed to keep on mowing to a sustainable direction.



I will just put my last lines in my first intervention in the talk on this blogg.


"I think that we are in a very decisive moment. The window of opportunity is still open but not so much longer. We are in a position were we could reach a win/win solution. A sustainable development for the planet and a slightly more equitable world but we can also end up with a loose/loose deal. It means that we doesn’t respond properly do the climate and development challenge. And everyone will come out as losers.

People in the developing countries could get the means for a low carbon development and people in the rich countries could switch from a high material consumption level to a more efficient and smart use of natural resources with a better quality of life as a possible result.
Or we can go on with the business as usual pattern and everybody becomes a looser. Poor people first and then everybody else.

But being a part of families of faith I work in the hope business and have a hope that we can change, that we can see the possibilities of the people of the planet to come together and share the planet with much more of care and respect for each other and the limits of the planet.
I am , together with many people around the world, very concerned about how the climate change issue is dealt with today. But not without hope"

European Development Days - Stockholm

Together with other organisations I will be involved in a panel today on the theme "Copenhagen and the right to development".
It is obvious that climate change is absolutely a core issue when it comes to development and a fair and sustainable development.
But sometimes I think that even if there are so much of goodwill when talking about climate change ; Are we really aware of what is at stake and what it takes to change?
On one hand it looks likes it is just to much and the means to shape a low carbon future are simply not there. On the other hand, we got the scientific knowledge, we know what to do and the costs is not as much as the money put into the financial systems to save the bank system.
We need a new way of thinking and to cut the structures that created the "carbon-chaos" that we are facing today.
We need other driving forces for change then just money. We need a vision of a better way of living in the global village. And it is not that far away. We just need to turn around and think more in terms of sustainable then economic growth. In one way it is as simple as that. And at the same time it is so complicated! But we have to be hopeful and on our toes to get together and act.

Air traffic

This video shows air traffic around the world for 24 hours. Remember that this traffic is not in the negotiations under UNFCCC.
A carbon tax on flights is more necessary than ever and let the money go to low carbon development in developing countries. As you see the flights are most common in the rich world but remember the most vulnerable lives in the other parts!

European Churches together would like to see a strong commitment on climate issues!

Yesterday ECEN (European Christian Environmental Network) finished their seminar on Churches responding to climate change in Lund Sweden. People from all over Europe and even Latin America joined together in discussions over the added value of churches to the climate change. It was obvious that the issue of climate change is not just about science and politics. It involves our lifestyle and the need to change.
Living in a culture of consumption we need a shift to a sustainable economy and a culture of sharing instead of competition and greed.

So churches of Europe hopes to see a large participation in the Countdown to Copenhagen campaign and that the churches of the world will ring their bells 350 times on the 13th of December at 15.00 local time.
I think that it is easy to underestimate the faith communities contribution to the climate change agenda. Think of it; If all the people of the faith communities (every kind of faith) of the world should just do some minor changes in their everyday life and put some pressure on their governments what a momentum it could be for a change over to a more sustainable future.

European Churches prepares for Copenhagen meeting in Sweden

Next week ECEN (European Christian Environmental Network) holds a seminar in Lund, Sweden to prepare for the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen in December.
The coming months and weeks are a real thriller. The signs from the negotiation rooms are not the best ones. But if you have been monitoring the world of negotiations for some time you know that it always turns out that way. Due to political tactics and show off for the national political scene.

But the issue of climate change does not have time to be a scene for national political agendas. This is a global threat that need global solutions.
We are in a situation were the science is clear about what we need to do and the political process saying that they can´t do that. I think that value based organisations and especially faith communities are urged to get on the scene saying;- "Hey, come on now! It is obvious what is needed and we want that sustainable and more equitable future to come. Leave your pride behind you when you arrive to Copenhagen meeting"
But of course the ECEN meeting may tell it in a more appropriate way than that but the meaning is the same

Towards an ethical debate – climate change as a challenge for lifestyles, solidarity and global justice. Another day in Brussels

Churches of Europe meets the institutions in Brussels today.
The good news: It is actually happening. Ethical and theological grounded arguments for a change to a more just and effective climate change treaty.
The bad news; EU officials are not giving a very clear message that EU are going to live up to their lower of emissions inside EU. It seems like EU are more interested to buy the easy deal from developing countries. And also the gap between science and action?

My input is from the Uppsala Interfaith Climate Summit that says;
"

From the Uppsala Interfaith Manifesto there is a message that is an answer to the urgency to act.

- 40 % domestic cuts of GHG emissions by 2020 in developed countries and 90% in 2050 (compared to 1990 levels)

- Binding cuts for the rich world on top of their domestic obligations

- Measurable, verifiable and reportable mitigations by developing countries, especially fast countries with fast growing economies.

- Massive transfers and sharing of important technology

- Economic incentives for developing countries to foster cleaner development on a national scale

- Support to adaptation to climate change. "

Now we need to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work to push for something to happen in Copenhagen.

350

Clock is ticking for CO2penhagen and a new climate treaty. Faith groups are becoming more and more visible and that is really encouraging. Now the 350 movement have announced 24th of October as a day to manifest the necessity to come down to 350 ppm CO2 equivalents in the atmosphere.
In the climate scenarios that we have seen earlier a stabilisation at 450 is the goal but latest science research says that to be more on the safe side we need to cut down to 350 (that we already passed).
24th October there will be happenings all over the world to underline the 350 target. Also faith communities are involved in this. So why not go to the website and sign the petition. And then make something happening on the 24th of October to highlight the 350 ppm importance.

Now we´re talking!

Last night at the Interfaith Power an Light National Conference in Washington there was this Fireside Chat that I really liked. Even though the fireside was not there and I would not describe this as a chat (maybe due to my limited understanding of the English language). This was something different.
From my perspective as a European and active in the World Council of Churches climate change group this was a missing piece.
Richard Cizik, a well known evangelical from USA, told us his story of how he changed and understood the importance of the climate change issue from a theological perspective. Really encouraging to hear that you keep to your belief and change when the perspective of the facts force you to do so. For me it was a good example that you can keep faithful to your tradition and in being so also switch to what the facts of the state of the world urge you to do.
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb showed the other perspective of being inside a movement nearly all the time (the ecological movement) and keep the faith and very open to walk together with other faith holders, to search the sustainability for the world.
Revd Sally Bingham is a great communicator and moderated this "chat" in a way that everybody felt adressed.
Everybody undelined the importance of hope and for me this was a real sign of hope.
We need the religions to come to the arena of climate change together. We need to have this kind of relations to each other to solve the global challenges that we face today. Inclusive open and with respect we can take radical steps at the practical level to overcome the climate crisis but also to come closer to each other from a religious perspective. This is what we really need in a globalised world of today.

Interfaith Power and Light - meeting in Washington DC

I am today in Washington DC to listen and to get inspired by the Regeneration Project Interfaith Power & Light Nationa Conference.
I have just visited the first hour of pre session but to hear all that is going on in the different states in the US is really encouraging. As a European I am challenged to speed up the climate change work and our interfaith work when I listen to the IPL experiences.
I will come back with new comments.

Churches in Copenhagen prepares to let the Climatebells ring

In ten months a new climate treaty will signed in Copenhagen. Ten months is not very long time and it seems that the world have lost the pace to face the challenges that we stand in front of. Technical solutions and political decisions is needed and at reach but the urgency is sometimes seems to be put in the background of the agenda.
Faiths of the world needs to take a step forward and remind everyone of the justice aspect of climate change and the need to change to a more just and sharing low carbon society.
For that we need to get the CO2 equivalents under 350 ppm again.
So, don't be surprised if all the churches in Denmark will toll the bells 350 times on the 13th of December in the afternoon. And maybe also the church bells in Norway and Sweden also will ring out the warning and the urgency to act. And maybe more churches around Europe and the world could take part in this symbolic action.

State of the world

World Watch Institute reports the state of the world. And the message is as clear as it can be. We have some serious issues to deal with and the world has to face the real challenge of climate change. At the same time there are so many possibilities to change track to sustainability. There are reasons to be concerned but there is also reasons to believe that we can overcome the threats of climate change. But it is not about tomorrow, it is about now

So help me God

Since the whole world been waiting for the president elect to become president Barack H Obama is now the president of the United States of America.
The expectations on this man are more than any one can live up to but at least this could be a mark of a new era.
President Obama mentioned climate change four times in his speech which at least I hope will be significant for the coming years of US administration.
Since EU has gone from the leader of the climate change agenda to the trajectory of lower ambitions we really need a proactive climate policy of US.
Now it is time to proof to the world that Americans can take the lead in the climate change negotiations and to show the world that they are willing and able to change to the new energy era and that an American lifestyle will be distinguished by low carbon use.
But the rest of the world really need to be on their toes because we all have to act, and act now. Act for to get down the CO2 emissions and act for at just distribution of the natural resources.
And we need all the strength we can get. So lets the last line of the inauguration of the president be our prayer too; So help me God

A Papal Confusion

It is sad to read that the Pope seems to mix up climate protection with a hierarchical thinking of creation and then compare it with how we live together as humans when it comes to sexual relations.
We really need the Holy See to take part in the Climate Change discussion but why is it so hard to understand that this is not a question about saving trees when it is a question of equity and justice.
Life is a precious gift that we share with each other. The earth is also a gift that we should share witch each other living on the earth now and also those who will come after us.
the Pope says
"Since faith in the Creator is an essential part of the Christian creed, the Church cannot and must not limit herself to passing on to the faithful the message of salvation alone. She has a responsibility towards creation, and must also publicly assert this responsibility. In so doing, she must not only defend earth, water and air as gifts of creation belonging to all. She must also protect man from self-destruction. What is needed is something like a human ecology, correctly understood."

So far so good. I like that but it becomes problematic when the Pope mix this with a gender perspective when he writes

"If the Church speaks of the nature of the human being as man and woman, and demands that this order of creation be respected, this is not some antiquated metaphysics. What is involved here is faith in the Creator and a readiness to listen to the “language” of creation. To disregard this would be the self-destruction of man himself, and hence the destruction of God’s own work"

To listen to the language of creation can be problematic. What do we interpretate as the message from the nature? Survival of the fittest? To dominate over each other? To listen to the language of creation is not to create social orders out of it. It is more about to understand the web of life that we all are depending on, to understand the inteconectedness, to understand the we are "one body" as St Paul puts it. And out of that act for a more sustainable way of living and a more equitable sharing of the fruits of creation.