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.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8LID2v7P2c

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.