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Asian ecumenical consultation calls for reducing carbon emissionsA regional ecumenical consultation has expressed concern that women, children, indigenous communities and the poor are forced to bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change though “their carbon emission is almost zero.” The consultation expressed anguish at the lack of commitment of countries that are responsible for the historical carbon emissions to reduce it, to engage in clearer technology transfer, and to pay reparation. Some Asian countries legitimize their increased carbon emission in the name of “per-capita emission’’ and “right to develop,” the consultation organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) in association with the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) said in a statement. It denounced the “dominant worldview” that the earth is only a source of raw materials and human beings are just consumers. The consultation on “Pathos of climate refugees,” organized in Bangalore criticized the attitude of many people to seek profit without limits, and to separate human beings from nature. Dominating nature and transforming everything like water, earth, traditional cultures, biodiversity, justice, the rights of peoples and life itself into commodities will “destroy the harmony of creation, and force millions to become climate refugees,” the October 5-9 consultation said. The consultation attended by 34 church leaders and social activists from Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand noted that the environmental degradation in different part of the world is “creating a new category of people known as climate refugees.’’ There are some 25 million climate refugees in the world today, the consultation quoted informed sources as saying and added that they are mostly in Asia and Africa, “and their numbers are increasing.” The conference statement noted that by 2050 there will be 150-200 million climate refugees in the world, and Asia is likely to be home to a large number of them. According to the consultation, climate refugees are people who leave their habitats now or in the near future because of climate change related environmental disasters which are increased droughts, water scarcity, desertification, sea level rise and the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes and mass flooding. In future, people living in low lying islands and island states such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Maldives might possibly be at risk of becoming climate refugees as a result of sea level rise, the consultation noted. It also said that most of the climate refugees in Asia, Africa, Latin America and small and low lying island states may be forced to seek refuge in their own countries or cross the borders to find a new home. Citing an example of the Bhola islanders in Bangladesh, who are considered to be among some of the first climate refugees, the consultation said that, in 1995, half of Bhola Island became permanently flooded leaving some 500, 000 people homeless and forcing them to move into slums in the country’s capital city of Dhaka, where they lead a life of poverty and pauperization. Climate refugees are the victims of unjust social and economic systems and patriarchy, and they experience everyday poverty, destitution, homelessness, violence, sexual abuse, state brutality and so on which are the pathos of them, the consultation said. Climate change impacts displacement of people and communities, the consultation said adding that an increase in the levels of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide lead to warming of the earth and to climate change. “It is a matter of great concern that if global warming, which is increasing, exceeds 2 degrees C, it could be devastating to the earth and its inhabitants,” the consultation warned. It listed, among others, increased natural disasters, such as drought, flood and cyclone, shortage of food and water, increased pollution, water related diseases, melting of glaciers and snow, and change in eco-systems, as the results of climate change. Reverend Freddy De Alwis, an executive secretary of the CCA told the consultation that the weather-related disasters are piling up in Asia and much worse can happen unless the human behavior and attitudes towards the environment change radically. He felt that human beings have misused and sinned against God’s creation and therefore “all of us have to repent and reconcile with the creation and make a fresh commitment to protect it as we protect our lives.” Stating that the most vulnerable groups to climate change are poor, elderly, children, women and indigenous people, the consultation urged the churches and civil society organizations in Asia to make people aware of the need to act urgently to limit carbon emissions and the resultant climate change, of which the causes are “industrialization, deforestation and burning of fossil fuels.” “We understand that the subaltern communities such as women, indigenous communities, children, dalits and the like are disproportionately forced to bear the brunt of the consequences of climate change in spite of the fact that their carbon emission is almost zero,” the statement said. The role of “tourism as one of the many contributors to changes in the climate system” was highlighted at the consultation. Mr Caesar D’Mello, executive director of the Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism told the participants that the carbon emissions from tourism are on a steep increase, “forecast to grow by 162% in the period 2005-2035.” The tourism sector depends on “aviation and shipping, on fossil fuel dependent utilities such as air conditioning and refrigeration and intense use of power,” which contributes to climate change, Caesar said. Caesar D’Mello said that climate change is a serious topic that the whole human race has to face because it “affects us all, sooner or later,’’ adding that if we don’t act together now, our people will suffer serious effects and their lives will be changed for the worse.” The consultation urged the churches and social movements in the region to create awareness among people on the impact of tourism on the environment and the poor and subaltern communities, and to help promote just and responsible tourism. It also urged the faith communities to understand climate change as climate injustice and to create awareness in children and young people through incorporating climate justice concerns into the Sunday school curriculum. Reverend Christopher Rajkumar, executive secretary of the National Council of Churches in India said that it has been urging the Indian churches to “mainstream ec0-justice ministries into its life and witness.” Reverend Freddy De Alwis, executive secretary of the Chiang Mai-based CCA told ucanews.com that it is important for Asian churches and ecumenical organizations to understand and protect our collective accountability towards nature and the environment. Inaugurating the consultation Methodist Bishop Tharanath Sagar, president of the National Council of Churches in India said that human beings have failed to be good stewards of God’s creation. He wanted the churches to rethink and evolve programs to protect God’s creation, which is now groaning because of people’s insensitivities towards to the earth. “Groaning of creation is a public protest and a public witness,” said Dr George Zachariah, who teaches at the Gurukul Theological College in the southern Indian city of Chennai. “A public protest against the unjust and sinful social structures that perpetuate death and destruction, and a public witness of the God who is present in the midst of our struggles keeping our hopes alive,” he elaborated. Establishing eco-justice commissions with full time coordinators in all churches and dioceses, and ecumenical organizations was recommended by the consultation. Initiating carbon auditing of all churches and Christian organization and making alternative policies and practices were among the other recommendations. Ms Chanmi Byun, a researcher from the Korean Church Institute for Ecology told apenews.org that the entire humanity with a united voice must address the issue of climate change which is displacing millions of poor and vulnerable people in the world. Chanmi said that the churches in Korea have been campaigning against global warming and climate change. To reduce pollution, we have campaigns such as ‘Sunday with no car’ which encourages the use of public transportation, she said. The Bangalore consultation was the third in a series organized under the broad theme, “Ecology, economy and accountability,” by the CCA’s Justice, International Affairs and Development. “We celebrate the memory of Jesus, the refugee who experienced the pains and pathos of being a refugee in Egypt. We realize that the “house of slavery” could be transformed into the “house of refuge" for Jesus family which inspires our countries and churches to be “home of refugees," the consultation said in a statement which will be widely circulated among the worldwide churches, civil society movements and partner agencies. Source: APENews Click here to read the full statement of the consultation posted by cbs on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 |
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