The Bible teaches the wholeness of creation and calls human beings to take care of the garden of Eden (Gen 2:15). The God of the Bible is a God of justice who protects, loves and cares for the most vulnerable among his creatures.
The present world development model is threatening the lives and livelihoods of many, especially among the world’s poorest people, and destroying biodiversity. The ecumenical vision is to overcome this model based on over-consumption and greed…[1]:
“And the Lord God took the man, and put put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it”
Genesis: 2: 15 Old Testament (KJV)
The world is suffering, and the changing climate has already given many indications that it will only cause such suffering to increase. Although there are certainly a few skeptics, the vast majority of scientists who have studied the phenomena agree that our increasing temperature is the result of humanity’s burning fossil fuels for several centuries.[2]
The road to –Copenhagen
UN Climate Change Conference 2009
The cost of inaction on climate change is high – in fact, it is likely to be much higher than the costs of the current financial crisis. Without new policy action, the OECD projects that world greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would increase by about 70% by 2050, and continue to rise thereafter.
This would lead to a rise in world temperatures by 4°C, and possibly by 6°C, by 2100. The consequences of such a scenario could include destructive sea level rise and storm surges, more frequent and intense heat waves, more violent hurricanes, more floods and droughts, and agricultural yields declining in many parts of the world. So, ambitious policy action to address climate change makes economic sense.
-Angel Gurría, Secretary-General, OECD [3]
On 7 December 2009, world leaders gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, to respond to one of the greatest challenges facing humanity: climate change. UNEP is supporting the negotiations leading to Copenhagen through its programmes, campaigns, official submissions and newly launched discussion series. The December summit in the Danish capital Copenhagen was intended to secure a new international agreement on climate change to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which would expire in 2012.
India is disinclined to commit to carbon emission cuts in the new treaty until developed nations, particularly the United States, present sufficient targets of their own.
In a recent meeting with the secretary of State of the U.S. India reaffirmed, its position stated at the G8 summit that it was not in a position to take on legally binding emissions reductions targets, at the cost of its own development targets. India however assured the visiting dignitary that it was in the forefront in the war against global warming and that it was interested in looking at its GDP as “Green Domestic product” at every opportunity It was also stressed that India was not “oblivious” of its responsibilities and that it was possible “to have an international agreement that recognizes formal but differentiated responsibilities.” Contemporaneously, the United States promised that it “does not and will not do anything that will limit India’s economic progress.” The U.S. assured that:
“The challenge is to create a global framework that recognizes the different needs and responsibilities of developed and developing countries alike”[4]
At the final round of negotiations to a climate change document in the recent Major Economies Forum (MEF) in Italy on July 7, China, Brazil and South Africa had all agreed to the “2 degree C” point before India decided to go along with the compromise. Why did India agree to the 2-degree cap? For two reasons: One, the compromise to keep the developing flock together as a single negotiating block, and second, to get a “clean text” that did not tie the developing countries down to any targets. Allaying fears that India had diluted its stand on the climate change at the recently concluded G8 meeting in Rome by accepting carbon emission caps, Indian Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Climate Change said that there was nothing in the declaration to suggest this position. India’s position remained unchanged and the lead in checking emissions had to be taken by the developed countries, the Special Envoy said at a Consultative Dialogue on “India’s Climate Responsive Roadmap for Development,” organized by One world Foundation India.
India, he said, would do whatever it could within the limitations of the available resources. “There can be no contradiction between poverty alleviation, economic and social development and climate change.” India was committed to an “ecologically sustainable growth path.” [5] U.S. Secretary of State sounded optimistic that the United States and India could bridge their differences on reducing greenhouse gases.[6]
Relevant to note is the fact that President Barack Obama offered a new leadership and has said he would do his best to help reach a deal in Copenhagen. He viewed global recession to recede by greater investment in the greener economy. His recovery plan included the largest investment in clean energy and energy efficiency ever seen in the United States. [7]
…to be continued in Part NINE
With regards,
PVJois
[1] https://www.oikoumene.org/en/what-we-do/climate-change
14062020@1114am
[2] http://bhaktivedantacccg.org/wp/?p=1
14062020@1122am
In reference to His Divine A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.27-38 — Los Angeles, December 11, 1968
[3] 30/06/2009 :http://en.cop15.dk/blogs/climate+thinkers+blog?gclid=CP2vt6uT4psCFdEvpAodbhuh-w
190709-938pm
[4] http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090719/wl_sthasia_afp/indiausdiplomacy_20090719123157
190709-958pm
[5] http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-Environment-Global-Warming-Climbdown-on-2C-clause-done-as-a-last-resort-/articleshow/4787408.cms
190709-943pm from: http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1730
190709-944pm;see also : http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/17/stories/2009071760081200.htm
190709-946pmfromhttp://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1730
190709-946pm:see also: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS-Environment-Global-Warming-Emission-compromise-at-cost-of-development/articleshow/4787420.cms
190709-948pm from: http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1730
190709-948pm
[6] http://news.yahoo.com/topics/hillary-clinton
190709-957pm:see also ; http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090719/wl_sthasia_afp/indiausdiplomacy_20090719123157
190709-958pm
[7] http://en.cop15.dk/?gclid=CI39o42U4psCFQMupAod8wdnAw
190709-940pm:http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1730
190709-942pm:see also : http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=1729
190709-953pm from: http://en.cop15.dk/frontpage
190709-954pm
Eagles in the Sun 