Bishops’ advice to Prime Minister on Copenhagen climate change conference
PR.0309
03/03/2009
Failure to secure a strong, just and effective response to the challenge of climate change at the Copenhagen climate change conference in December 2009 would amount to a moral failure on the part of humanity as a whole, Church of England bishops have told Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
It is imperative, they say, that when the European Council meets in March it seizes the opportunity to agree a negotiating strategy capable of achieving such a response.
"The world needs to reduce its emissions of CO2 at the same time as dealing with a crisis in our debt-based economies. This is an opportunity for human society to build a new kind of low-carbon economy which is more fulfilling, more sustainable and more equitable," says the Rt Rev Christopher Hill, Bishop of Guildford, writing to Mr Brown on behalf of the House of Bishops' Europe Panel.
While recognising the Prime Minister has to face political realities, the bishops invite him to adopt a negotiating position that:
- Ensures that the EU's emission reductions targets are clearly aligned with scientific evidence to limit long term global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.
- Tackles poverty and inequality by helping developing counties grow economies that are not dependent on carbon fuels.
- Identifies community based action, including those of Church congregations and other faith based groups, as a powerful tool for mitigation and adaptation measures and provide mechanisms for such action in developed and developing countries.
The Church of Scotland has sent similar advice to the Prime Minister in a letter from David Lunan, the Moderator of its General Assembly.
Text of the letter to the Prime Minister
Climate Change, the European Communion and Copenhagen
Ref: Towards a Comprehensive Climate Change Agreement in Copenhagen - Response to the Communication from the European Commission (COM(2009)39) of 28 January 2009
I write on behalf of the House of Bishops' Europe Panel. When the European Council meets in March to consider the Commission's Communication on climate change, we believe it is imperative that it seizes the opportunity to agree a negotiating strategy capable of securing a strong, just and effective response to the challenge of climate change at the Copenhagen climate change conference in December 2009. Failing to address this threat would amount to a moral failure on the part of humanity as a whole.
The world needs to reduce its emissions of CO2 at the same time as dealing with a crisis in our debt-based economies. This is an opportunity for human society to build a new kind of low-carbon economy which is more fulfilling, more sustainable and more equitable.
While recognising you have to face political realities, we invite you to adopt the following negotiating position:
- Ensure that the EU's emission reductions targets are clearly aligned with scientific evidence to limit long term global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius. We are particularly disappointed that the EU has adopted a position that enables it to meet its emission reduction target by recourse to offsetting measures from outside the EU. These offset credits risk only cancelling out EU emissions with no net reduction in overall global emissions. We think therefore that the EU should commit itself to a 30% mitigation target below 1990 levels by 2020 to be achieved within the boundaries of the EU.
- Tackle poverty and inequality by helping developing counties grow economies that are not dependent on carbon fuels. Developing countries need measurable, reportable and verifiable financial and technological support to implement mitigation and adaptation actions above what they are already doing. Internationally, we believe the EU should invest the financial equivalent of an additional 15% emission reductions in developing countries by 2020 to assist them decarbonise their economies and adapt to climate change impacts.
- Identify community based action including those of Church congregations and other faith based groups as a powerful tool for mitigation and adaptation measures and provide mechanisms for such action in developed and developing countries. The Church of England's Shrinking the Footprint initiative aims to reduce the Church's carbon footprint by 80% by 2050. In September of this year, we hope to launch our own Adaptation Fund whereby individuals and parishes here in the UK calculate their carbon footprint and pay compensation for anything over their fair share. Funds accrued from this exercise will be used to finance community based adaptation projects from around the Anglican Communion.
Obviously, this is a summary letter, further elaboration of these points can be found in our submission to the European Commission post 2012 consultation.
We look forward to continued dialogue with you and others within the UK government as you work towards an ambitious post-2012 Climate deal. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss these issues with you, including the Church of England's own initiatives as outlined above, and how far we ourselves are actioning our goals as well as encouraging others.
Ends
Notes
