by William Somplatsky-Jarman

The World Council of Churches has addressed the issue of climate change for many years and had a delegation once again at the negotiations of the Conference of Parties (COP7) in Marrakech, Morocco. With its continuing focus on global justice it lifted up the plight of the poor and the natural world at COP7. Elias Abramides of Argentina, head of the WCC delegation, addressed the plenary of delegates. He emphasized that religions have a significant role in helping the nations face climate change: "They have to promote care for the earth and establish a language of the heart and of the spirit which will surely have a great influence on the climate change negotiations."

During past negotiations, the World Council of Churches has held interfaith worship services and sponsored public forums to explore religious views and climate change. As COP7 was the first time the talks have been held in an Islamic country, this year’s focus was on Islamic and Christian perspectives on climate change. More than 75 delegates from governments and non-governmental organizations, as well as members of the Christian and Muslim faith communities in Morocco participated. A central theme was the common concern for preserving the creation for future generations. The main speakers were Professor Ahmed L. Khamlichi, an Islamic scholar from the Royal Moroccan Palace, and Father Henri Madelin, a Jesuit priest and university professor from Paris, France. A report of the forum is anticipated.

Stefan Edman of the Swedish delegation added that religions "can help us to recapture a sense of the sacredness of creation, for nature mirrors the beauty and love of God. We have to develop a new humility towards nature." Mr. Edman also emphasized concern for the world’s poor who already suffer from the effects of climate change. "The industrial nations are practicing a new kind of colonialism with the stratosphere and we have to put a stop to that," he asserted.

The WCC has developed study papers and held regional conferences on several continents to raise awareness of climate change among church members. It has also focused on specific issues such as transportation policy and the linkages between global warming and climate-related disasters (e.g., severe storms and floods), which require mobilization to relieve human suffering.

David Hallman of the United Church of Canada is the coordinator of the WCC climate change program (email:dhallman@uccan.org), and William Somplatsky-Jarman is a member of the WCC steering committee on climate.

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