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