Faith And Climate

Success or crash? Or something in between..

2011-12-09T08:56:00.001+01:00

Walking the corridors of ICC in Durban I saw Todd Stern, the US envoy on climate change and the leader of the US delegation here in Durban.
That man has a lot in his hands and maybe on his conscience for the climate change negotiations. Some years ago there were some hope that US could play a constructive part in the climate regime. Today no one counts them in. The discussion is centered around those who are willing to take the situation serious, which is not the case from US officials who actually seems to believe that you can postpone the reaction of the planetary system! And they are still the worlds second largest emitter as country and per capita the highest, if you don´t count some of the extreme small gulf states

Why are the US so passive and also sometimes obstructing? There are of course many reasons but one must be the climate sceptics but were are all the people of faith in US? Why can´t they speak out about the injustice in how we treat the natural resources? Were are the preaching about the role of human to protect the gift of life in the world we living in? The protection of the equilibrium of the ecology that we are depending on? The responsibility to act with the must vulnerable in our mind?
I know that there are good signs in the faith families in US but they also need to influence the society and the debate and the decision makers.
Well, that is not only true for the US, it is a task for the whole worlds faith communities. That could make the job of Todd Stern a little lighter and a more constructive for the climate and the justice...

Climate Talks - again!

2011-12-04T08:03:00.001+01:00

After being very silent I take up the writing on this blog. I am at the COP 17 in Durban South Africa. As always there are a lot of people from all over the world gathered.. Some officials from their countries and some from civil society.
If we just should listen to the people on the streets there are nothing to discuss. We need to lower the emissions of greenhouse gases and transfer resources to development countries.
If we just should listen to the scientists there is no doubt that we are on the edge of something really serious and we need to drastic lower our emissions and put money to development countries for adaptation and technology transfer.
But if we listen only to the official delegations from the rich countries and the growing economies (read powerful) there are lots of other problem to be solved. Maybe we could lower the emissions by 2019 and do it slowly without risking the economy.
This is so wrong. It´s like telling a patient who is severe ill that we have the medicine and it works and we can give it to you but we have to wait until it is cheaper. That maybe when you are dead but it will be a real good cure!
Yesterday the ecumenical movement was out on the streets of Durban together with other groups to show our concerns and the demands for action from the leaders of the world. This is the momentum for transition! To create a new world built on sustainable and just structures for people of the world. The truth is now that the richest 7% of the world's population created half of the world's emissions while the poorest 50% accounted for only 7% of emissions. And it is about time to change this for everybody's sake.

Climate change in the Holy Land

2011-03-02T23:58:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I spent visiting people, places and organisations around Bethlehem. To enter this part of the world I have to pass the wall that is a big disgrace to the whole world. I thought that everybody understood the mistake of building dividing walls after the iron curtain.

Anyway the visit was a tremendous experience. First I got a guided tour in the landscape to see the very strategic building of settlements and then I went east in the direction of the Dead Sea. The birdlife was exiting and the view astonishing.

But the change of weather patterns are clear to people hear. The rain is much less then it used to be which is a problem to people relying on water harvesting. Even if there is a natural cycle of the amount of rain this is a warning of what might be more in a near future. And water is a big issue here. Some people have a lot of water and some are short of it. As it is on the rest of the planet. Some uses a big part of the resources and a majority is left with what is left.

Water and human rights are connected. I think that we have to see the same thing in Climate Change. There is a connection that must be stressed. Just look at the WCC webpage you will see that this is something that must be taken seriously.

I got the privilege to meet with Palestinian authorities, NGO:s, educational people and faith communities to discuss the problem related to climate change.

Again the response I perceived was that there is a need for capacity to meet the demands that climate change puts on a society. And with the political situation in this place of the world the capacity is small. Anyway the people expressed a great engagement in the issues and a genuine will to meet the challenges of climate change. Should be a sign of hope to all of us. A light for all of us from the place where the angels proclaimed peace on earth to the shepherds at the night of nativity!

Climate Discussions in Jerusalem

2011-03-01T12:38:00.003+01:00

Today I am in Jerusalem to meet with an international course at the Swedish Theological Institute.

Together with people from Asia Africa South America and Europe we have talked about the threat of climate change and the response or the needed response from faith communities, theologians and faith communities to this.

It is nice to be in the surroundings of the old town with all of the layers of religious life that is enshrined here. The communalities of the faith families as well as the conflicts.

If we could just see this as a richness to meet the threat of climate change and not a dividing thing the climate combat could serve as a tool for deeper understanding and that is needed both for peace and for peace with the earth

Denial - will not solve the problem!

2011-02-23T17:02:00.003+01:00

Read on Scientific American site about the denial of human induced climate change in the US.

It is easy to get depressed when you hear that so many people think that climate science is fake!

It is like the ancient old testamental time when the prophets that said the truth but those who delivered a comforting message was believed.

Now, was´nt there an american peace prize laureate that said something about inconvenient truth? Is he still there?

2 degrees - not enough!

2011-02-15T11:45:00.004+01:00

The scientists James E. Hansen and Makiko Sato published an article where the message is that 2 degree target and 450 ppm that UNFCCC and IPCC suggested as what the world should aim at to avoid a the most serious results of climate change is far from safe!

It will be very serious results if we are satisfied with that scenario.

Now, hove come that there is such a big gap between what is pointed out from the scientific world and what the political world are ready to do!

So it is even of more importance that faith people around the world get their message to their governments -For Gods sake and the planet and all the people living there; Get you act together and take responsibility and ACT!

Nordic meeting!

2011-02-15T11:09:00.003+01:00

Last week a group of people working on environmental issues in different Nordic churches met to share and discuss how to cooperate in the best way around environmental and climate change issues.

In Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and northern Germany there is a whole lot of good work going on. Certification with a church identity, creation time materials, action on climate change, study materials and so on.

Hopefully this will be a starting point for a broader sharing and cooperation in the churches of Northern Europe.

I am glad to be a part of this ecumenical network!

Copenhagen - Nordic Churhces together

2011-02-10T08:52:00.002+01:00

Today and tomorrow representatives from different Nordic churches will meet in Copenhagen to look at what we can do together as churches in a Nordic context on issues like climate change and sustainable development.

Hopefully this will be a much more fruitful meeting then the UNFCCC meeting December 2009.

I think it is great that we as faith communities are reflecting over why this is a subject that is a part of our identity as churches and at the same time thinking of what we can do on a practical level.

To come somewhere with the huge assignment we have to change from an unsustainable and unfair world order to a efficient, sustainable and more fair world we need to look at our values, at our spiritualities. We also have to walk the talk. To pray and act at the same time!

So let´s hope for a small Nordic Ecumenical step towards a greater engagement of the faith communities.

Food prices and Middle East Crisis

2011-02-08T15:54:00.003+01:00

In the media for the last weeks the protests against the regimes in Middle East has been in focus. Often social media as Facebook and Twitter is mentioned as the vehicle that drives the protests. And perhaps that is the truth. But maybe not the whole truth.

There are also an underlying force in the sky rocketing on the food prices in the world. And this is not just related to a greater demand due. It is also related to the lower yields last year and it seems that it is related to climate. For example the heatwave in Russia led to a less crop then usual.

Today we face that the world market is rising and that also may be an underlying reason for the protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen etc.

Climate Change is not an issue only for environmentalists. It is about democracy, freedom, human rights, sustainability and about to have food on the table

Faith communities in Cancun - does it matter

2010-12-11T09:58:00.002+01:00

The UNFCCC meeting in Cancun is running on overtime and every delegate seems to to their best to avoid a failure like we seen in Copenhagen.

Also the WCC have as the last of everyone in plenum made its statement. But does it matter if the faith communities is present or not? Do they add anything more than just another voice that we can hear from other environmentalist or social justice groups.

Actually I think it matters.
A document on why churches are present in Cancun from the group that attended the Cancun meeting was delivered and it ends like this

The holistic approach to climate change that churches proclaim also includes the spiritual dimension which must not be overlooked or ignored in the deliberations over political and economic interests. The hosting of ecumenical or interfaith celebrations during the COPs, as well as other explicit expressions like demonstrations and messages from local congregations and communities, stress the particular contribution that faith based groups and organizations can and must bring to the debate. It is our hope that the ethical and spiritual considerations will be taken seriously in the follow-up deliberations after COP 16.

There is, therefore, a moral obligation for the churches and faith communities to participate in the negotiations of the international community in Cancun and in the future. Their contribution is twofold: to urge the world to act for a more just and equitable world and and the same time, rooted in their spiritual teachings, convey a message of hope to the whole world.

That is a good reason why.

Cancun - last hours

2010-12-10T00:15:00.003+01:00

Cancun meeting is in the last 24 hours now. All the states are doing their statements and the buzzwords changes all the time. Japan needs to be talked into that they stay in the Kyoto protocol. And what about historical emissions? In the LCA document or not?

Anyway the hope is that Cancun delivers a kind of road map, even though that word relates to Bali meeting 2007.

The world need to step every step, even if it is small, to reduce the climate impact.

The hope is still there but it needs to be fed by states and organisations that take the lead and act for a low carbon tomorrow.

Yes we CanCun! Maybe...

2010-12-06T22:15:00.002+01:00

Now I have arrived in Cancun for the COP 16. It is the forth time that I am at a COP.

The mood could be marked as low expectations but with some hope.

There is no real spirit of "Yes, we can!" It is more like: "Well, maybe we can, if somebody else start".

But still. I miss the references to moral obligations to act. I miss the justice perspective that points out the need and rights for the developing regions of the world to develop and leapfrog the fossil driven development.

So lets see what happens during the last days.

Cancun - hopes and fears

2010-11-25T10:54:00.002+01:00

Even though the expectations of the upcoming negotiations of UNFCCC at COP16 are low there are some hopes and some fears.

The hope is that at least the promised money for quick-start funds for adaptation will be raised and that it will be additional to other development aid money. One of the few positive things in Copenhagen was the promises from US and other to deliver this money for development.

The other positive thing with Cancun is the low expectations! In Copenhagen everybody raised their expectations for some years, and that seemed to lock the processes. This time with a post-Copenhagen depression over the las year no one expect anything to come out of the meeting. This might be a good ground for a good grounding work for the next meeting in Durban, South Africa 2011. At least EU seems to have gone back to keep and prolong the Kyoto protocol so that there will be some kind of legally binding treaty to hold on to.

The fears? Well, it must be that the parties just don´t see the urgency anymore and dig the trenches even deeper and pointing at the other telling the to act and escalate the blame-game. And the result will be a much more insecure, unequal and unjust world and unsustainable in every aspect.

Statement from Budapest

2010-11-15T13:20:00.003+01:00

The conference in Budapest on Poverty Wealth and Ecology is over and the statement is published on the internet.

The call is a good call that I think underline some of the more important perspectives. The call to EU institutions is for example;

· Climate justice, and therefore both social and ecological values, should be a central goal of policy-making. In industrialised countries economic growth should no longer be seen as an aim in itself.

· European countries and the EU should politically and financially support green growth in developing countries in order to allow for the development of renewable energy.

· Tax systems must be reformed in order to be at the service of just, participatory and sustainable societies and communities, as well as to promote justice on the global scale.

· Prices on goods and services should reflect true social and ecological costs and benefits.

· Coal-fired power stations and nuclear power stations should be replaced by renewable energy as soon as possible, richer European countries should support poorer ones in so doing.

· A redistribution of wealth and income as a key element of environmentally sustainable societies is necessary.

· The redistribution of wealth and sharing of technology between rich countries and poor countries affected by climate change are crucial elements of climate justice and have to go along with additional support for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

· The EU should commit itself to more ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets regardless of policies of other large economies.

· The market sphere needs to be informed and limited by the public sphere and the real “core economy” – namely our ability to care, teach, learn, empathise and live in solidarity.

· People living in poverty and social exclusion, including marginalised migrants, shall participate in the definition, design and implementation of all measures which affect them according to the principle “Nothing about us without us is for us”.

And the call to the churches are

· be prepared to use their influence and positions to take a firm stand and to take a risk where necessary when it comes to conflicts following God’s preferential option for the poor.

· make use of the WCC statement on Eco-Justice and Ecological Debt in their approach to governments and in their relationship with official institutions, companies and church members.

· acknowledge the close link between the fight against poverty and the struggle for climate justice in their strategic and practical approaches.

· reflect on the impact of their policies as well as the lifestyles of their members on both the climate and on vulnerable and poor peoplw

· be pioneers and examples on the way to sufficiency by implementing practical programmes on reducing CO2 emissions, e.g. environmental certificates for parishes, increasing the knowledge and solidarity as well as exemplifying different sets of values and fulfillment as alternatives to consumerism and striving for life according to the “principle of enough”.

I think there are some real good and interesting standpoints in this that should make churches more wiling to act. Because that is what we need now.

The full statement can be find at http://www.ceceurope.org/news-and-media/news/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=230&tx_ttnews[backPid]=17&cHash=5917295165

2010-11-10T12:09:00.002+01:00

Today is the third day of the meeting in Budapest about Poverty Wealth and Ecology. People from Europe and all other continents to discuss how the three different subjects are related and what churches should and could do about it.

Obviously there is a clear linkage between them. The change of the climate is a result of the way the world produces wealth and the results of a climate change is to often strikes the poor people most and first.

So we are in a world were we got to change. And if we will not change the the climate will beyond what we can handle. And that is the about the only thing we don´t want to change.

But we need to change our way of thinking of what is growth. We need better instruments to say what is wealth. To just measure it only with "money" is not enough. Money is just an instrument to create the prerequisites for our way of living together and it is important but not enough to describe what makes a good life.

We are looking after it in Budapest but we still haven´t found what we looking for.

Cap and Trade - no more in the US!

2010-11-02T17:14:00.002+01:00

The website BusinessesGreen.com writes "Business seem to have called time on the US's only national carbon trading market, blaming an absence of legislation as emissions-trading laws remain mired in Congress.The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) operates a cap-and-trade scheme which, since its launch in 2003, has attracted major players such as Ford, Bank of America, IBM and Intel.Members made a voluntary but legally binding commitment to meet greenhouse gas emissionreduction targets either by cutting emissions or by buying emissions permits sold by members.The scheme relied on the government setting mandatory caps on emissions – legislation that has not emerged after the Democrats abandoned plans for cap-and-trade legislation over the summer. Republican gains in today's mid-term election would likely push the possibility of legislation even further off the agenda."

There are a huge criticism against the cap and trade system saying that this will not speed up the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions. This system is used inside the EU but it has not really done that much to emission targets. The financial crisis did a much better work in this aspect. At least Cap and Trade can be one way to get business into the work but the resistance against any climate legislation in the USA seems to killed the voluntary CO2 market. And if the Republican get a lot stronger today the climate policies seems to come a lot more far away in the coming two years. This is not a good day for all of us struggling to change the view on a sustainable world and a more just world in the coming years. But still ; We can Hope and we can act....

Payroll skeptics!

2010-10-27T08:41:00.005+02:00

The Climate Action Network Europe (CAN-E), a network of NGOs, has issued a report accusing major European companies of donating funds disproportionately to candidates in the US Senate election who are known for their denial of climate change.

Among the donors are chemical manufacturers Bayer and BASF, oil company BP, energy provider GDF/Suez and steelmaker ArcelorMittal.

According to publicly available figures, the eight companies examined by CAN gave a total of $306,100 (219,400 euros) to Senate candidates, of which 78 percent went either to known climate change deniers or to senators who voted against the Obama administration's cap-and-trade legislation, seen by activists as a major contribution to the fight against climate change.

This is the news from Climate Action Network (the quotation is from the website of Deutsche Welle.

I can respect people who can be skeptic to science and want to try the scientific statements in a search for truth. That is the method of all good science. Hypothesis are right until they are proven wrong. But to keep a point of view with reasons that is more about what we want the world to be are not especially smart or honest. It would of course be much more convenient if you just could go on with business as usual but this not make the lie a truth.

Now it is even worse when you get paid to be skeptic when you have influences on the political decision making. This seem to be the case and that those who kept USA from taking steps to a more progressive climate policy and to take steps forward in the international climate policy discussion where getting the big bucks from big industry. It is a shame. And it seems like the elections i USA coming weeks will slow down the climate process in one of the most important countries of the world. And it will be done with money from the business world. Why cant they see that the future needs another way of thinking!

But we have to trust the word; The truth shall set you free.

Not to brilliant, mr President!

2010-10-20T13:37:00.003+02:00

(Reuters) - Climate change is not a threat and the consequences of global warming will not be catastrophic, the President of the Czech Republic said on Tuesday.

Vaclav Klaus is a vocal sceptic on the topic of global warming. He published a book in 2007 in which he said global warming had turned into a new religion, an ideology that threatens to undermine freedom and the world's economic and social order.

"Global warming in the last 150 years was modest and future warming and its consequences will not be dangerous or catastrophic. It doesn't look like a threat we should respond to," he told a lecture in London on Tuesday.

Now, this is not so clever Mr President! You act more or less like the good prophets of the time of the old testament. They said everything is fine. Don´t change anything. But those prophets were never remembered. They were just there to make the world easier and smooth for those with power.

No mr President this is not a new religion, but you seems to keep up with the old religion that have devastated the planet for the last centuries; the cult of mammon. I think you better come to your senses and understand that climate-research of today gives us information that we have to respond to. And then we need to get "religious" in that sense that we have to act for the most vulnerable. Just as the old testament prophets said in the old testament.

EU takes one step forward - and a bit closer to were they been!

2010-10-15T08:41:00.003+02:00

Good news are not so frequent when it comes to climate change negotiations. But today we have one.
EU was very proactive in 2007 during the UNFCCC negotiations at Bali but one year later they were very defensive and withdraw their ambitions.
Today the good news is that EU is going to Cancun for the COP16 negotiations with the ambitions to prolong the Kyoto protocol.
In these days after the breakdown i Copenhagen this is good news.
The problem is that the world need to do much more than what was in the Kyoto protocol. And that has been known since the Kyoto protocol was formulated in the nineties.
But in these days we have to celebrate everything that is not a step backwards. Even a step back to original ambitions is a good step.
Now, let´s hope that EU raises their bid in Cancun and go for a 30% cut of emissions to 2020 to challenge the other nations in Cancun.

Climate change in the arctic - a risk for geopolitical conflicts

2010-10-12T11:00:00.005+02:00

Climate change is not only about environment. It is about food, water, equity and lifestyles. All issues that I have tried to address on this blog.
But the implications of climate change is also about peace.
Due to change in the climatic systems we will probably see a diminishing ice shed of the Arctic. This is highlighted in an article in the Guardian today. That will lead to possibilities to get natural resources that has not been in reach for the different states before. So the tensions between Russia, USA Canada Norway and others will be a new problem that we already can see some signs on.
So if you want to create peace - save the climate and let the natural resources, especially the oil, be untouched for some more years. Go for renewable energy and act for peace.

101010 - a mustard grain

2010-10-11T11:13:00.003+02:00

Yesterday the 101010 campaign took place. A global work party for action to lower the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Many churches around the world joined the party and thousands and thousands events around the world occurred.
This is great! And even if this was not a headline on the news in northern Europe it was at least a great step for all those that participated. Even if the decision-makers of the world did not act in Copenhagen and seems very sleepy for the Cancun meeting later this year things like 101010 raise the awareness in the context were it happens.
If Jesus referred to the mustard grain as a picture for how the good things grow. From small things big things come.
I hope that 101010 is a mustard grain that, together with other actions will grow and we will create another world, a sustainable and just world. And we will do it together. One humanity and one world.

The free riders!

2010-09-30T08:22:00.004+02:00

The climate discussion seems to be stuck in a discussion about who is supposed to act and do something. Every nation is pointing the finger on the other nation saying- You should act! China should act because you are the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. China say that US and Europe should act because the historical emissions of the world comes from those countries. Small countries like Sweden say that other countries should act because the emissions from Sweden is only0.2% of the world emissions so what happens in Sweden is absolutely of no interest of the world.
And so does the discussions proceed and we are stuck with a bunch of states starting a blame game and looking for a free ride. A free ride that means that everybody else should start and I myself can go on as usual.
Why is it impossible to think of a broader "we"? We are together on this planet and the time to act is running out. If we don´t act as a "we" now there will be only a free ride to a much more complicated world to handle for the future generations.
Where are the faith communities of the world that have a more inclusive perspective and a more long-term vision of the world and life? Time to speak out and together say; We are on this trip together and we must act together, all humankind.

African Earthkeepers

2010-09-28T10:01:00.002+02:00

M.L. Daneel wrote some years ago about African Earth-keepers and about interfaith actions in Zimbabwe to keep people and earth together and used sustainable. I was very moved some years ago when I got to see a short film on how they managed to get people of different African initiated churches and traditional religions representatives to have a service together with sacramental parts side by side and then together planting new trees. The idea was that trees planted under these circumstances were much more looked after then traditional aid tree planting or so to say"secular planting".
Now I wonder if this is still happening in Zimbabwe? We need much more of tree planting in sub-Saharan Africa. For many reasons. To keep the earth from erosion, to keep the water in the earth, to catch CO2 from the atmosphere and some more reasons.
(If anyone knows about this project, please comment.)

The Good News

2010-09-22T10:07:00.003+02:00

Today on Swedish broadcast there was a part of a programme that highlighted the possibilities to sequestrate CO2 from bio-energy and in that way use energy in a way that it takes the carbon out of the atmosphere. It is more than carbon neutral. It is carbon negative.
Another small scale alternative that is very interesting is the charcoal stove that reduce the impact of deforestation related to use wood for cooking, improve health for women and children in poor districts of the world, captures coal out of the atmosphere and fertilize the earth.
I guess that we need all this good alternative to start the transformation from a fossil based society to a more just and sustainable world.
In the perspective of the poor and vulnerable, that should always be the perspective of faith communities, this is good news and we need to tell the decision makers that there are possibilities to change and the time is now!

Climate is a small issue in Swedish elections

2010-09-17T09:24:00.001+02:00

Coming Sunday the Swedish election for a new parliament will take place.
Unfortunately Climate Change is not a big issue. The discussions about climate is mostly about what to do in Sweden. Railways or taxes, windmills or nuclear. But the moral view and the global consequences of climate change is not on the table at all.
It is remarkable to see that one year ago everyone interpreted every small shift in the weather as a result of climate change and was pointing to UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen. Today with on of the largest weather related catastrophes ever in Pakistan with millions of people affected and the heatwave and wildfires in Russia last months no one relates to this as what will be more common in the future due to climate change.
The Swedish government are just bragging about that they have the best climate policy in the world. Something that is not true.
The rich countries of the world have the obligation to start the exodus of the fossil based society, not to say that developing countries should do something first. Those who have build their prosperity on fossils should also take responsibility to at the same time change to renewable energy on a large scale and at the same time help developing countries to take a leapfrog over the fossils. But I can´t hear anything in that direction in the political debate today. I guess we need a shift of mindset. Act locally and think globally!

Pilgrimage with good outcome

2010-09-05T23:43:00.003+02:00

The pilgrimage with European Catholic Bishops ended in Maria Zell in Austria today. In a good, serious and open way the days have been filled with sharing, discussion and a will to act and participate in a change to another way of care for creation. I just give you some points from the message that I hope will be published soon

The need for education and action /ecomanagement. I am very glad to see the positive standpoints to actions among churches in the environmental field. It was often pointed out among the pilgrims the importance to act on every level.
The solidarity with the poor. The perspective of the poor has always been one of the pillars of a good grounded climate change work in faith communities. I was very glad to find this perspective in the document. This statement can be a good platform for coming activities.
The ecojustice aspect When it comes to climate change it is more than clear that the most vulnerable to climate induced catastrophes are to a large extent those who contributed less. We will need a way to develop this subject on a broad ecumenical bases and this message gives good incentives for a further dialogue.
The inclusion of future generations The concept of sustainable development is pivotal for a good environmental work. One part of the definition of sustainable development is the intergenerational perspective. This combined with the of solidarity with the poor and a justice perspective makes this message as a good message on the importance to work on all aspects of the concept of Sustainable Development.
Referring to the Sibiu agreement on Creation time It is also very satisfying and encouraging to see the reference to Sibiu and the endorsement of Creation Time. This has been one of the more spread parts of ECEN activities so it is very pleasing to see the affirmation of Creation Time.
Stressing the importance of ecumenical praying and services There was an ecumenical service in the cathedral of St Pölten. Good to see the need for more ecumenism in this issue

CCEE on a Pilgrimage

2010-09-03T08:59:00.004+02:00

CCEE, the European Catholic Bishops conference is on a pilgrimage from Eztragon in Hungary to Maria Zell in Austria. I am attending the the pilgrimage as one of two invited guests from ECEN network.
Yesterday we was on an excursion to a bio diesel factory in Komarom on the border between Hungary and Slovakia.
It is really encouraging to witness the rising interest to act and to think over the issues that relates to the on a broad level to sustainable development. The bio diesel plant was an example that we can do a lot with the technique we have and recycle what we used in a much more efficient and sustainable way.
But if you think that bio diesel is the solution that will replace oil it is not an option. The option now is to start thinking in a different way. We have to think of a future with less use and more efficient use of energy, energy coming from all kinds of renewable sources, not only one or two. This thinking projects another way of living. A much better "another way of living" and if churches should do anything it must be to give visions of how we can live a good life together on this earth. I hope that this pilgrimage will inspire the catholic bishops to come up with a multitude of visions of a new sustainable life for all of the creation

Same arguments 30 years later.

2010-08-05T11:25:00.003+02:00

I found this strip inside my old No Nukes record from 1979. It was made as a response to the Harrisburg nuclear power plant collapse. If you click at the picture you will see a larger picture and you will recognise the arguments. Solar will not work. Today they say the same but maybe it is broadened to "- Renewables wont work!"
I´m getting tired and fed up on that the same argument is still around.
One thing is much more clear today; Fossils will not work and nuclear is no good option and brings along so much more problems.
But the big guys will try to bring on more coal,oil and nukes! But we will resist and say there is another way that is more sustainable, fair and better for the global world then this old time solution to a problem of today!

Bonn negotiations - maybe the first positive step since Copen - (or Broken-) hagen

2010-06-15T07:50:00.003+02:00

Some small signs of hope comes from the negotiations under UNFCCC meeting in Bonn last weeks. Even though nearly anything that contains at least a willing to change from the stubborn path to look at the counter parts failures instead of a constructive will to action might in these days be a positive sign.
Yves de Boer,the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). did at least formulated a glimpse of hope when he said,
"A big step forward is now possible at Cancun, in the form of a full package of operational measures that will allow countries to take faster, stronger action across all areas of climate change, "
But still, the rich countries of the world are trying to go point the fingers on other countries to act first and to wait before they act themselves. Why is it so hard to understand that if the rich countries, those with capacity, would start the leap from fossils to renewable´s the rest of the world?

There must be som fun also...

2010-06-12T23:46:00.004+02:00

Assemblies must also have some fun and festivities. So the last night of the assembly some folk music from the region on the border of Chezc republic and Slovakia played some nice tunes. I think I got at least some of the text..tralalal, tralala....

ECEN Climate and food!

2010-06-12T17:32:00.002+02:00

The ECEN Assembly are soon to be ended. The last night is a night of compiling statements. So in this hours we try to get all opinions into one sheet. Now, that is no easy job.
Statements are good but even better is what happening as a result of the words.
A good illustration of what we discussing is the weather outside. The picture shows some kids in the river in a small river outside Prague. This is not usual to have this high temperature at this time of the year and some weeks before the heavy rain "attacked" this area. It is not a proof of climate change but a hint of what we will see happening more often in the future.
But as always, the most vulnerable will be those with least capacity to cope. In short; the poor people were ever they live. And what will happen to the food production in the future? Not only in sub Saharan Africa but what will happen in central part of Europe? There will be problems even there. And what do we do to mild the effects and cut the emissions that creates the problems? It is more then urgent to walk the talk

A burning heart!

2010-06-11T23:22:00.003+02:00

The ECEN assembly goes on and today was the day for working groups and excursions.
Climate Change is still an extremely important issue and I see new ways of connecting the European work with the African work.
This picture is from a place that once was a monastery and the a prison for the Gulags, Which is the acronym for The Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps and Colonies (Russian: Главное Управление Исправительно-Трудовых Лагерей и колоний; Glavnoye Upravlyeniye Ispravityel'no-Trudovih Lagyeryey i koloniy)
But they kept the paintings in the ceiling and there is a burning heart.
We need more of the burning heart to change and keep the climate inside the sustainable level.

Exchange - the meaning of meeting

2010-06-10T17:10:00.003+02:00

Why meeting in real life when we have the internet? There is one good reason, at least, and that is the sharing of experience. Of course, the inputs by experts are interesting and sometimes challenging but that can all be found at the internet.
The most valuable moment are when we meet over a cup of coffee in between all the power-points and figures and facts. Like on this picture. Maybe the UNFCCC should put in some more coffee breaks to get a bit happier and the outcomes could be a bit more positive

ECEN Assembly in Prague

2010-06-10T15:31:00.001+02:00

After the collapse of COP 15 in Copenhagen this blog also collapsed. But now it is time to rise again and start the work and pick up the pieces and get back on the track again.

European Christian Environmental Network is gathering again to an Assembly. The theme is Climate Change and food.

In some of the lovely surroundings of Prague in a weather that is more like being in the tropics we are discussing the relation between food and climate change.

The short truth is that there is no quick fix. But there are still hope and ways to go.

As a good sign the food at the assembly is vegetarian and if you must have meat you have to tell it. Bon apetit

FAB - the new black!

2009-12-17T10:20:00.002+01:00

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

2009-12-16T10:35:00.003+01:00

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!

2009-12-15T10:16:00.002+01:00

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!

2009-12-13T23:07:00.002+01:00

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

2009-10-27T06:52:00.004+01:00

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

2009-10-23T10:18:00.003+02:00

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

2009-10-20T22:04:00.002+02:00

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!

2009-10-15T15:37:00.003+02:00

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

2009-10-08T11:31:00.004+02:00

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

2009-06-17T14:58:00.003+02:00

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

2009-05-19T08:45:00.004+02:00

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!

2009-05-05T12:16:00.002+02:00

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

2009-05-04T17:47:00.003+02:00

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

2009-02-21T15:51:00.002+01:00

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

2009-02-21T07:47:00.002+01:00

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

2009-01-21T17:24:00.003+01:00

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

2009-01-12T08:30:00.002+01:00

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.

EU goes backwards!

2008-12-15T19:47:00.006+01:00

One year ago at Bali the EU was the proactive part of the UNFCCC negotiations. Promoting cuts between 25 - 40 % in 2020. Those were the days! Now EU seems to take five steps backwards. 20% and no trigger to 30% in case of a global treaty. And free emission rights, no funds for developing countries from emission trade! CDM projects instead of doing domestic actions! And some try to say that this is a step forward! 2009 seems to be a heavy year for those who wants to see a fair and necesary treaty signed in Copenhagen.
Now lets use the Uppsala Manifesto and put it on the EU goverments tables as well as on the table in the White House. Time to change!

The Manifesto is signed

2008-12-01T16:21:00.004+01:00

Friday night the manifesto was signed. The 28 hours of cermonies seminars and meetings was a great experience for everyone there.
There is a real and honest will among religions to come together to overcome the climate change challenge. At least I got the impression from the summit. Hopefully, when looking back, this could be one of the first step to an interfaith cooperation that will have a real impact on fighting climate change.
There is hope for the future!

The day of the Interfaith Summit!

2008-11-28T06:37:00.002+01:00

The picture shows the group that one year ago started the process that ended up to become the Interfaith Climate Summit Manifesto, Hope for the Future.

Today there will be around 1000 people in Uppsala, Sweden to take part in the Interfaith Climate Summit. A vast program with all kinds of inputs on the theme of climate change and faiths is at hand.
The Climate Interfaith Manifesto will be signed this afternoon and hopefully this Manifesto can serve as a tool for the climate change discussions inside faith traditions as well as a message to the political processes under the UNFCCC agenda.
Looking forward to moderate two sessions tomorrow with some of the signatories. One session have a European perspective. What can the different faith traditions in Europe bring to the climate change agenda. I am looking forward to hear the opinions of Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp a long time enthusiast on interfaith dialogue and ecology , the professor from Lampeter, Wales, Mawil Izzi Dien who know so much about Islam and Ecology and also a warm friend of interfaith dialogue and my good friend Dr Peter Pavlovic from Conference of European Churches that for a long time has worked on the Environmental Agenda in the European context.
What are their visions for Europe from the faith perspectives related to climate change.
I also do look forward to hear four examples of best practises. Dr Charles Reed from Church of England, Mr Roman Juriga from Czech Republic and Rev Dan Melander from Ethic and Energy, Sweden and Rev Sally Bingham from Interfaith Power and Light, US. It is really encouraging to know that different examples from faith communities do something that is hands on.

Next Friday - the Manifesto will be signed !

2008-11-21T11:07:00.005+01:00

Friday 28th November different faith traditions of the earth will be represented in Uppsala,Sweden and a climate change manifesto will be signed. Hopefully this Manifesto can serve as a tool for faith traditions around the world to take a more active part in the real Change that the world need to get out of the fossil age! And the Manifesto could also be a message to the negotiators from all the nation of the world that we want to see brave actions in Poznan and all the way to Copenhagen, so that there will be a treaty that lower the emissions and also give the possibility to development in the developing countries.
It is time for the interfaith movemnet to come up with their own "Yes we can" moment. We need to be aware of the threat of climate change to especially the poor of the world but we also need the joy and hope as a driving force for change. Faith traditions of the world can equip the world with that; With hope for the future!

The Pacific is still there but time is running fast

2008-11-21T01:51:00.004+01:00

Fei Tevi from the pacific are looking for the action from the churches to react but mostly to act when it comes to climate change and the results for the fluent continent.
Adaptation for the people of Kiribati and other islands in the Pacific, seems to be becoming a fish, and that evolution is not done in a decade. The question of resettlement is a fact now. Where can you go when the erosion of the coasts is rapidly changing the conditions? And what would you say if the place where you lived for generations and the ground where your ancestors is buried is threatened to be under the surface of the ocean? And the irony of the situation is that the people of the Pacific have not been the one that caused by the climatic changes. But for us in other parts of the world we must listen and act. The Pacific is the climate change "Canary in the mine" They are still singing but they are singing out a warning, and we better listen

The Swedish Archbishop gears up for the Interfaith Climate Summit"

2008-11-12T09:34:00.004+01:00

Some days ago Archbishop Anders Wejryd wrote an article in one of the major newspaper in Sweden on climate change. There he gives his view on the climate change policies in Sweden. His bottom line is that Sweden must mitigate their own domestic emissions of greenhouse gases with 40% by 2020. To say that other countries emit a lot more and that the Swedish part of the world emissions are so small is no way of showing responsibility in the international discussion.
He refers to the upcoming Interfaith Climate Summit that will take place in Uppsala,Sweden 28- 29 November where persons from different faith traditions will come together to sign a manifesto on climate change.

Archbishop ends the article by saying that
"Climate change demands wise, considered and common measures. Especially in we in our westerns societies have to go through drastic changes in the next decades. Spiritual leaders are ready to come together and show the way to create hope and positive models for every day life. Now it is up to the political leadership to do the same."

Now, lets hope that the Interfaith Climate Summit brings the manifesto to the political scene and back to the faith traditions of the world. Everybody have to act and do it now.
In this time when the Climate Sceptics are more loud and the financial crisis are taking over the discussion we have to keep the climate focus. We can not afford to ignore the crisis and we have to understand that it is time for real change, and that the sceptics are slowing us down.

Faith communities in Barents Region on Climate Change

2008-11-04T16:50:00.003+01:00

Last week faith communities from the Barents region came together in Oulo, Finland, and the theme where climate change. The Arctic region will face the impact of climate change in many ways. What will happen if the natural resources like oil can be exploited if the ice cap will melt around the pole? What will happen to communities if the maritime traffic will expand due to ice free summers? Can den Sami people still hold reindeer's? And will the interests in natural resources from different nations create a more tensed relation between the Arctic states?
The faith communities expressed their concern and hopefully they could respond to the urgency of the situation.
Read the statement here

Poverty and climate

2008-10-15T14:31:00.003+02:00

Climate Change is also about poverty. If we can not curb the emission in time (and the window to act is open just for about 7 -8 years from now)we will face more poverty around the world due to changed climate. Today bloggers around the world will bring the subject of poverty to their blogs.
From a faith perspective we must always have the most vulnerable of the world in focus. The most vulnerable to climate change are the poor. Just look what happened in New Orleans, a town in the rich world. Those that suffered most were those who did not have the financial resources or insurances.This is the fact all over the world. Poor people will be the first victims when harvests will not be as it used to be, when water resources will not be there, when flooding s will sweep away their hoses.
Climate change is not just another Green Issue! It is a moral obligation to the people of the world to change. If we should make poverty history we also need to make the fossil society history.

Why doesn´t the world respond to the climate challenge as quick as it did to the financial crisis?

2008-10-14T10:37:00.005+02:00

The last weeks have been focused on solving the financial crisis of the world. The activities on the stock markets and from governments of the world have been more than high! Iceland seems to have lost more or less half of their bank assets in a week! Now everybody can support the will to save and secure the financial system. Why is the sluggish way of dealing with climate change? The crisis of climate change is as urgent as the financial crisis!
Maybe people think of climate change as a green issue that we can deal with when the financial problems are solved. But the economics of climate change is already sorted out by Sir Nic Stern! And he also underlined the urgency to act.

I quote from the last ECEN (European Christian Environmental Network) working group on climate change

1) The need of political leadership to avoid the tipping points.

Climate change is not only about individual lifestyles. We need global agreements with targets that bring the emission of green house gases down.

We strongly support the action the European Union is taking to tackle climate change and, as a European network, urge the European Union to take brave leadership in the coming process under UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) with the next two COP’s (Conference of the Parties) in Poznan and Copenhagen in focus.

The seriousness of the situation and the message from the scientific community says that big cuts of emission are now necessary.

In reality this means that we would like to see EU/European countries work for;

· a 30 – 40 % cut of emissions for industrial countries to 2020 without use of flexible mechanisms, i.e. buying credits from developing countries

· binding commitments to use a minimum of 30% of the revenues from emissions auctioning to support developing countries to adopt robust adaptation and mitigation programmes.

· 80 -90 % cuts of emissions to 2050

· a fair and effective global climate treaty to be decided at COP 15 in Copenhagen

If the world can act in a week to save the financial systems then it is possible to act to save the climate in a much faster way then what we can see now!

Erosion in Alaska - also a consequence of Climate Change

2008-10-02T13:14:00.002+02:00

This video is shot this summer over from late June to late July. It is clear that the erosion is just another effect of the climate change we live in these days!

Greenhouse Development Rights

2008-10-02T12:27:00.006+02:00

Today Stockholm Environment Institute presents new figures on their idea of distributing the efforts to cut the emissions of Greenhouse Gases in a more equitable way.
The results is a big challenge to everybody on the earth. Forget the talk of EU 20 % cuts and if a global agreement will come, 30%,to 2020 as a success. The developed countries needs to do MORE than 100%!And that means definitely more than 30 % to 2020!
How can the emissions cut be more then 100%? Because the developed world have to do more than only domestic cuts! So if you thought that you could buy your part of emissions from somewhere else and go on with the same amount of emission, forget it!
Executive Director of SEI Johan Rockström says

"- Taking drastic action is not a choice; it is a necessity. The planet will not remain within safe thresholds without emission cuts of more than 100% in developed countries. These cuts should address domestic and international emissions, as well as the emissions from our consumption of products produced abroad."

Now if someone thought of this as bad news I am not sure that is right. This is a way of locking up the negotiations of UNFCCC. Every country have a responsibility to cut emissions but as it has been said for sometimes, shared but differentiated.

China, India, Brazil, South Africa, etc, everyone will have to do their homework, but the largest part will be done by the industrialized countries like the US and EU.

Sivan Kartha, the author behind the GDR:s says “- The bottom line is that the current climate negotiations will not succeed until they address the fundamental challenge of human development for the poorest people on the planet”

Now, this is the real challenge of climate change!

Climate change is also a European issue! Faith people of Europe; Wake up!

2008-09-30T15:35:00.004+02:00

After returning from the ECEN assembly in Truggio outside Milan the European Environment Agency publish a report on the impacts of climate change to the European continent. The message is clear! Climate change will change the preconditions in Europe! And this is the time to act and that the emissions cut have to be essential!
This is not the first time it is said! We have heard this again and again. There seems to be something missing.

The missing piece must be the will to change, you might even call it the heart the drives you to action.
ECEN members better use the big words to their church structures when they return to the different European churches and more or less scream in their leaders ears; For Gods sake and for humans sake; We need to change and leave this fossil state of mind. Come on lets go on the renewable path!

Countdown to CO2penhagen

2008-09-28T01:06:00.001+02:00

Final document from the ECEN assembly

2008-09-28T00:47:00.004+02:00

After a day of hard working and some compromises the final document from the ECEN assembly is at hand.
To the institutions it says
"EU commitments must not be achieved through offsetting: significant cuts of greenhouse gas emissions have to be achieved through efforts here and now."
I hope that the churches really work for a pressure on the policy-makers to keep the pressure up! Look further at the ECEN website

The hard work of drafting papers

2008-09-27T15:30:00.003+02:00

Saturday at ECEN assembly and all the delegates are more or less involved in the outcomes of the working groups and the appeal to the churches to act on climate change!
Some may say just papers and words! Where is the real action to the real challenge? Ok, that may be true, but don´t forget that words may make a difference between action and no action! If the word is like the so called good prophets of the old testament, inaction resulted in severe problems!
We are facing the same problem with those who neglect the urgency of climate change!
So hopefully good words from the ECEN assembly can get the churches to for Gods sake get their act together!

A silent ECEN assembly talks

2008-09-27T01:38:00.005+02:00

Today the ECEN assembly gathered behind the cathedral in Milano for one hour of silence as a non violent action to get the attention of the Milanese inhabitants. All of this delegates standing in silence for an hour made some people to stop and hopefully to think.
Definitely there was a sharp contrast to the ongoing fashion week with the jet set of the consumption generation visiting the town! The gap between the rich and poor is clear on a day like this.And between those most affected by climate change and those who have influence the climate there is also a gap. But the difference is that when it come to richness there is winners and losers, when it comes to climate change there are just losers! Even if some will loose before others.
Time to close the gap! Time for a change, just for a change

Edman challenges the ECEN assembly to contribute with hope and action!

2008-09-25T23:52:00.002+02:00

Stefan Edman, the Swedish biologist and writer gave a lecture at the ECEN assembly in Milano on Thursday. He wanted the churches to be contribute to the mitigation of Greenhouse Gases by get the attention of the wonder of being, to be a place for reconciliation, to be prophetic and cry out about the injustice of the climate change and to be a home for the hope of the possibility of another world.
I can only agree! The added value of faith communities must be on an ethical and mostly on a spiritual base! Let´s hope that faith communities of the world pick up this challenge.

Panel on churches contributions to the climate change agenda

2008-09-25T18:22:00.004+02:00

The panel with representation from orthodox, reformed, roman-catholic, evangelical and an ethical perspective were all on the way to say that churches have something to bring into the climate change debate. But what?

European Catholic Bishops Conference have done a three pages document on climate change that will be published in October. Carl Golser say that it is not enough, even on individual level we have to act.
Otto Schaefer from reformed tradition says we need to educate pastors.
Dimitri Oikonomos , Orthodox means that churches can not serve as a vehicle to other forces. Churches must stand on their own ground.
Alfredo Abreu evangelical from Portugal want to see the churches working together with other organisations that want to move to a more sustainable direction. He also shared the experience of meeting the environmental minister from Brasil who said to him; - If you can make a lifestyle change in 1 percent of the population we will have a revolution in this country! Alfredo goes on "We have to draw from our conviction a change in small things. We have to do hands on work!"
Michael Slaby from Earth charter reminded us of the richness in different faith traditions to bring into the climate change debate!

The question from the floor is if the panel members are really aware of the urgency of the situation and I must agree! It is not enough to just sit on the side saying that God is a wonderful creator, and that we can look at how we use buildings.
We need very radical steps and the contribution of the churches must be to act in the debate with the poor people of the world in their focus. This is not an environmental issue, it is the key question to what future we will meet in just some decades and the urgency calls us as churches to speak out for a more equitable world.

At least Dimitri Oikonomos said that we need a new way of thinking, and that is maybe the churches can contribute to give space for new way of thinking.

ECEN Assembly alive!

2008-09-25T18:07:00.003+02:00

Today ECEN Assembly embarked on the Climate Change discussion. Co Chair of the IPCC Jean Pascal Ypersele started the day with a very engaged introduction on were the scientist are now. There is absolutely no hesitation that we are affecting the climate with the emissions of greenhouse gases! To hear mr Ypersele was encouraging because he was very clear of the development agenda and the social repercussion of mitigating GHG. But the message was clear! Urgency to act now and to make considerable cuts now is what the new results of science tells us.
If I understood this right that means the 20 - 30 % that is EU:s position now is not just sufficient.

The Start of the Blame Game!

2008-09-16T21:23:00.004+02:00

Just some months before Poznan meeting and a little more then a year before Copenhagen and hopefully a new treaty the tactics have started. Or you can call it a blame game! The Swedish minister of environment declared that developing countries with fast growing economies must do essential contributions when it comes to mitigation of greenhouse gases. Of course there are some truth in that but this does not mean that industrial countries can be passive. And if you look at per capita emissions there are no developing country that reach levels of industrial countries!

There is nothing good in this way of pointing fingers and say that others should do! If there is no solution to the question of burden sharing before Copenhagen we risk a situation of a locked up negotiations!

The idea in Greenhouse development Rights ( originating from Stockholm Environmental Institute and Christian Aid and others) can serve as a tool to lock this up.
In short it says that there is a threshold for doing mitigations. In a country like US 95 % of the population comes over that threshold but in China about 25%.
I hope that this can give some stimulation to new way of thinking and stop the blame game

Will EU take the lead in Poznan or will they wait for others to act? And what about Copenhagen 2009??

2008-09-11T17:41:00.003+02:00

After spending 24 hours in Brussels listening to people inside the EU system I am concerned! What happened to the active EU at Bali saying 25 – 40 % reductions in industrialised countries?

Now it sounds like they will be satisfied with 20 % and maybe 30% reductions, but that will be tough anyway. And that is not just the domestic responsibilities. In this 20 – 30% they will count JI/CDM as being more cost effective than doing it as a “home work”.

It sounds to me like they don’t want to change or wait a little bit longer.
It is a moral obligation to act first domestic and also help developing countries to make a leap over the fossil period.

EU must act proactive. This is an opportunity seldom given to change. This is the chance of a lifetime to start the walk on the road of sustainability. And those who will be first will also be those who will have the technique to offer.
Come on EU and member states! Leave the fossil thinking behind. Think outside the box! The people of Europe doesn´t need to consume all the energy they do. We want to live more simple and not depend on insecure energy sources that being used as a political force. We want a mix of different energies that is renewable cause we know that we only have one earth.

European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) - assembly on the real challenge of climate change

2008-09-03T09:48:00.004+02:00

Later in September (24 - 28 September) ECEN will have their 7th assembly outside Milan in Italy. The theme of Assembly is The True Challenge of Climate Change. In the invitation you can read "The question not only concerns proper action but equally the link to theology as the foundation of the action. The intensifying awareness that churches and religions have the potential for a genuine contribution to the climate change debate will be at the centre of attention of the Assembly"

I hope that this Assembly will empower churches of Europe to be more active in climate change discussions. Climate Change is not only about who is going to pay. Since the situation is urgent we are more challenged then we ever been. The question of what a good life is, the question of justice, is at stake and we need to address them from a faith perspective.

Some might ask if this is really something for the Churches act upon? The answer is; Yes because this is about how we live together on this earth and how we share the gifts of creation. A silent church in these matters will not follow their assignment of being church.

I will come back to report on this Assembly when I will be at the assembly.

Australian Faith Communities does it !

2008-09-01T11:02:00.004+02:00

Earlier in August an open letter from Australian religious leaders was published. They urge the Australian government to strong commitment to address the causes and consequences of climate change.
The list of signatories are impressive.
But also the short text of the letter is valuable because first ,it stresses the fact the most vulnerable to climate change must be in focus and second, that the religious leaders commit themselves to act.

They also call upon the Australian government to act both to mitigate their own emissions but also to support the adaptation to climate change in the Pacific Islands.

This is really needed! The Pacific Islands is somehow like the Canary in the coal mine. They are the first to be hit by climate change. And if the canary in the coal mile stops singing people know that they are in danger. The people of the pacific are still singing but they are singing out a warning; Time to act!

Obama talks Faith and Climate

2008-08-30T12:12:00.002+02:00

Senator Obama working hard on his way to become the next president of USA. Interesting to see that he will take one hour to talk about how his faith influenced his “commitment to protect the planet” I hope that this is not just another step to catch votes. Let’s see after the election, if he is elected, if he can tackle this question again. And not only on the personal level! How will different faith communities contribute to change. The word that he built his campaign on. The world needs USA to take brave steps together with other rich countries of the world to curb the emissions soon. In his website he asks us to believe in change. Maybe we also need some faith, hope and love for the change to another way of living.

Churches responds to the Climate Challenge.

2008-08-28T10:51:00.002+02:00

No one can ignore the fact that Climate Change is going to have a huge impact on everyone on this planet. It is not just about sea level rise or warmer weather. The largest impact is on the social level. Who will have access to water when climate change will affect water supplies? Where can people settle down to make a new start when the harvest were th

ey lived doesn’t feed them anymore or when their small island in the pacific is conquered by salt water? Who will get help from the diseases spread over larger areas when insects will spread wider due to a change of climate?

For a long time World Council of Churches (WCC) have had Climate Change on their agenda. WCC have produced different material, being present at the different meetings under UNFCCC and saying again and again that those who are most vulnerable to climate change are the poor.

It is not possible to be church and at the same time ignore the poor. Therefore I think Climate Change must be on every Church agenda. Since Climate Change very often relates to our way of living and the choice we make in our everyday life.

And there are signs of hope.

For example. There is a statement from concerned Bishops at the Lambeth Conference August 2008 on Climate Change and the urgency to act now. Both on political level and on the personal behavior.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has done their policy work on Climate change. Church of Sweden have their position on Climate Change and development were they want to see considerable cuts of emissions from developed countries combined with new resources for adaption and technology transfers.

The churches in the Netherlands have a good and comprehensive work on Climate Change. The Roman Catholic Church have made statements on Climate Change and the need for a change of lifestyle to curb the emissions of greenhouse gases as soon as possible. I could go on with many more examples.

I hope that this is a start of something more. Because the real challenge of climate change is more than an environmental question. The core of the Climate Change issue is about how to share this planet in a fair and sustainable way. All of these faith communities declare that life and the earth is a gift. And this gift must be shared with righteousness among the living creatures of the world. Climate Change is not only a green issue. It is a question of equity and sharing. It is a moral and existential issue. We need new technology, political leadership but also values and a change of mentality to succeed to get the emissions down. So faith communities of the world - it is time to respond to the challenge now!

Uppsala Interfaith Climate Summit

2008-08-27T09:09:00.003+02:00

The Archbishop of Church of Sweden has invited around 35 persons from different faith traditions to a meeting in Uppsala 28 - 29 November on Climate Change. At this summit there will be a manifesto signed by people from many different faith traditions from all over the world with a message to the world that climate change must be taken seriously not only from a political view but also from a spiritual and ethical horizon. And that the world must come together and act now to change the human way of living to a more sustainable way.
This is a unique moment! Different faith traditions come together to contribute to the solution of the biggest problem that we have ever faced.
I hope that this can be a sign of hope and that faith traditions of the world will wake up and come together in a new and fruitful way.

2008-08-27T09:04:00.000+02:00

This blog is dedicated to Climate Change and Faithbased work on the question. I will comment on different happenings in the climate change debate from a faith perspective.
The simple reason is that everybody has to contribute to meet the greatest challenge of humankind ever. Religions and faith is not only about the transcendency! Most religions of the world cares about what is happening in our world, and many faith traditions have a strong path of justice and equity. We need justice and equity to share our planet in a sustainable way and we all need to contribute to a new way of liviing. A way that takes care of all humans and the earth that is our home and feeds us every day