Catholics, Climate Change and Copenhagen

Currently the national leaders, along with business and NGOs, are gathering in Copenhagen to move ahead on the issue of climate change (global warming) and to develop a new international agreement around this issue. It is hoped that this post-Kyoto agreement will both reduce CO2 emissions and commit to fund a global institution that will help poorer nations from the negative impact of climate change and to develop energy efficiency.

On December 11, 2009 the news was released that a U.N. draft agreement is now circulating with mixed reviews. So far the goals of the agreement are rather weak and they offer a standard for nations to apply voluntary (should) commitments in cutting emissions. It requests the following:

• Industrialized nations cut CO2 emissions by 25% by 2020.
• Developed countries provide “adequate, predictable, and sustainable financial resources, technology and capacity-building” to support the poorer nations in their struggle with climate change impact.
• Developing nations “may undertake autonomous mitigation actions,” rather then a specific binding commitment.

While the language in the draft is very weak it should also not come to the surprise of anyone who is aware of the international agreements. Whether the issue is climate change, human rights or global trade nations are almost always reluctant to cede their autonomy to international agreements and institutions.

The issue of climate change and its impact on the poor is of great concerns for the Catholic Church. Pope Benedict XVI expressed this concern in his most recent encyclical:

“This responsibility is a global one, for it is concerned not just with energy but with the whole of creation, which must not be bequeathed to future generations depleted of its resources. … This means being committed to making joint decisions “after pondering responsibly the road to be taken, decisions aimed at strengthening that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying” Let us hope that the international community and individual governments will succeed in countering harmful ways of treating the environment.”

The Vatican is currently involved with the Copenhagen conference. Its position is to promote a strong standard for cutting carbon emissions and for financially supporting poorer nations that will suffer the most from climate change.

For faith-based communities like ourselves our concern with climate change is not based on science. Our concern is based on our experience of mission and ministry. Like Caritas the Passionists have missions throughout the world. Recently I was visiting the Asian communities in India. The conversation in that part of the world is not based on science, it is based on reality. Our communities in Indonesia, Philippians, Papua New Guinea and India are very much aware of the impact of climate change on the poor. Tsunamis, severe weather patterns, etc. are not debatable considerations. They are real phenomenons that are making a very real impact.

For those of us who are caught up with the scientific debate keep in mind the “Precautionary Principle.” During the scientific battle regarding the effects of tobacco this principle was used to suggest that in the face of a very real harm (lung cancer) even thought the scientific argument at the time was debatable, social policy should err on the side of addressing the social harm while the scientific debate continued. As a member of a Catholic Religious Community with missions throughout the world I can say that the harm is very much real.

The Catholic Church has three social principles that are relevant to our position with regards to climate change:

• Stewardship of Creation
• Promoting Solidarity and the Common Good
• Option for the Poor

Based on these principles and the real impact of suffering to the poorer members of the human community the Passionist JPIC office considers it a responsible moral position to act and support initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to promote social responsibility on issues related to climate change. The Passionist JPIC office prays that the Copenhagen conference produces an agreement that will have the international community working together on mitigating the effects of climate change and its effect on poor nations. However, no matter how strong or weak the agreement is, we also realize that the Catholic social principles are primarily applicable to all of us as individuals. Social policies are only as strong as the political will that comes from its citizenry. If we all adopt principles and practices on issues of social concerns then we will see our democratic institutions follow suit. The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is a partnership of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. This coalition has some great resources on the spirituality and actions for promoting the Stewardship of Creation. One action that we can all take is the Catholic Climate Covenant.

Please also visit our Passionist Earth and Spirit Center which offers courses and further resources on the ecology based on the spirituality of Thomas Berry, CP Also click here for a pdf resource from the Earth and Spirit Center on Living in Harmony with Creation

The Passionist JPIC office would like to hear from our readers on the issues of social concerns that we share. Please feel free to offer your comments, thoughts or further resources regarding this issue.

5 Responses to “Catholics, Climate Change and Copenhagen”

1. Sebastian says:

   December 11, 2009 at 5:35 pm

   The significance of the Copenhagen conference on global warming (and its predecessors) is that it concerns an issue affecting every nation in the world. Every nation, though to varying degrees, contributes to the escalation of global warming, and every nation suffers the results of global warming.
   And the scientific data surrounding the issue need not be absolutely convincing about the causes of global warming. Even should it be true that this is a cyclic phenomenon occurring every so many millennia, everyone admits that contemporary industrial and deforestation practices contribute to the warming of the globe. For there is irrefutable evidence that such is occurring.
   This is probably the first time in human history when everyone on the planet is affected by the same phenomenon, short of the universal flood in the time of Noah, and that was likely pre-history. Everyone contributes to global warming; everyone suffers from it.
   The U.N. is the only worldwide institution in existence capable of addressing this problem. The series of conferences including Copenhagen is a moment for the U.N. to shine. Though subjected to bitter criticism since its inception, the U.N. is “the only thing going”. So far as it is concerned, the good should not be sacrificed to a best or even a better that is nowhere in sight. This may be the moment for the U.N. to rise to the occasion by demonstrating how civil conversation can be “more than just talk”, by leading to concerted collaboration that is meaningful.
2. John Gonzalez says:

   December 12, 2009 at 10:08 am

   Fr. Sebastian,

   Thank you for your historical insight. No matter what effect of climate change is caused by human contribution the fact is that climate change is happening and we are able mitigate its effects (we cannot stop it) and establish defensive policy measures with regards to its effects.

   I am proud of our Church for responding spiritually to this. It is now our obligations to promote the Church’s position.

   While I agree with you that the UN is essential both the UN and the political will of Nation States will only be as strong as its citizens. Our obligation with either climate change, human rights or the global economy is to support the work of multinational organizations such as our Church and the UN while on the ground promoting local initiatives and resources for individuals.

   Because of the nature of global politics I do not believe that a very strong agreement with absolute binding commitments will surface. That should not deter our work. We should probably look at conferences like Copenhagen as a step in the right direction rather then a solution. A step that we need to promote to the local community so that in their adjustment the global political will might change to move on to the next step.
3. John Gonzalez says:

   December 13, 2009 at 10:06 am

   The following message came from Fr. Rey, CP who is the Passionist JPIC coordinator for the Phillipine Province and the assistant mission director of the CMIP (catholic mission to the indigenous people).

   Indeed your presentation is very true, our country in particular is experiencing unpredictable calamities due to climate change. i presume you know how the northern part of our country was devastated by the typhoon ondoy.

   the same concern that we are bringing to the mountain. in the mission in particular, we remain prophetic in our stand against mining. one of our staffhouse in the mission was burned down and our care-taker was killed last august 5, we suspected a lot that it was related to our fight against mining. you can visit @ http://www.dadbulol.com. we are facing big foriegn companies and we stand firm against them as we collaborate with our diocese.

   CO2 emission is not that bad here. reforestration here and there is what we are encouraging to the people under our ministries now. more than 20 passionist filipino priests and brothers are organizing the so called “passionist bikers”. you can visit that at http://www.passionistbikers.ning.com or cpbikers@ning.com. this is our little way of saving our mother earth by promoting bicylce and minimizing air pollutions.

   The Copenhagen conference is a big help. it could be one of the best avenue of a better international agreement as we all try to address our problem on climate change. i do hope and pray that everything would be well in all our jpic endeavors. i am happy to belong to this faith who values a lot in stewardship of creation. i am willing to collaborate whatever plans we may have in this office.

   this is just all about creation and i still have to collaborate with the other jpic’s here as we fight for justice and peace. i know you know about the maguindanao massacre that happened last November 23 here. we are fighting for justice for all the victims.
4. hugo says:

   December 13, 2009 at 3:14 pm

   I agree that Copenhagen is a step towards the right direction. However, there is something lacking. While I do believe that there is a sense of urgency in tackling the root causes of Global Warming, the most effective approach to the issue is to create a culture of appreciation and respect for nature. This could involve the number one issue facing the devastation of natural resources primarily done by the Global North, the over consumption of goods.
   Here’s a video by Aljazeera on the Green Patriarch.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apx77ixqRbQ
5. John says:

   December 22, 2009 at 1:52 pm

   Here is a very good and realistic analysis of the Copenhagen Accord by the National Resource Defense Council. As expected, Copenhagen did not create a legally binding agreement, but nevertheless it is a step forward.
   http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/the_copenhagen_accord_a_big_st.html

   By the way, Hugo, that was a wonderful video from the Orthodox position. Thanks for sharing.