IntroductionThe climate change working group addresses one of the most crucial environmental issues facing humanity. Since the late 1980's there has been increasing international recognition among scientists and governments alike that human activities are now significantly affecting global climate. But it is one of the most highly political issues, because its challenges affect our consumption of energy, our mobility and our land use, three things which strike deep into both macroeconomic realities and personal lifestyles.The realities are stark. Climate experts say we need a global reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 60% to stabilise the situation, and even so many parts of the world already face serious disruptions in the coming decades. Yet the world's worst greenhouse polluter the USA has decided in amazing selfishness that any reductions are against its economic interests, and the governments of most other industrial countries have spent years quibbling about reductions of barely a tenth of what is needed. Find out in these pages what ECEN, in collaboration with other church organisations, is doing to promote action and raise awareness of these crucial issues. See WCC Climate Change Updates |
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Facilitor of the ECEN Climate Change Working GroupIf you would like to get involved with this issue please contact:Marijke van Duin Working Group on Church and Environment Dutch Council of Churches Hectorstraat 14 1076 PR Amsterdam Netherlands Tel : +31 20 6714 329 Email: marduinATxs4all.nl (substitute @ for AT) ECEN Basic DocumentsSee the extensive dossier summarising the main issues, prepared by ECEN's Climate Change Working Group :See also a background paper prepared for the 1998 inaugural Vilemov ECEN Assembly. |
At the Volos Assembly we decided to make an inventory of climate work and climate projects in the European churches. The plan is to put a data base of information on the website, put project workers into contact with each other and try to build up a European project from the work that already exists.
In order to achieve that, we need your help. Please send me any information you have about concrete climate work and/or climate projects in your church(es) or Christian organisations. Electronic information, including links to other websites, can be e-mailed to me. Non-electronic material can be sent by mail (see address above).
Looking forward to receiving your information and material!
Marijke van Duin
www.oeku.ch/petition.htm shows the climate engagement of the Swiss ecumenical organization "Church and Environment" on one single page.www.countrysidematters.org.uk/dcga/climate_change.html - "COOL IT! Climate Change and the Devon Churches" - a report from Devon Churches Green Action
www.christian-ecology.org.uk/noah - a climate change project run by Christian Ecology Link (CEL) in the UK
www.kerkinactie.nl/deaardeademtop - a Dutch project on energy saving and climate fund www.biene-bea.de - A project on Bio-Energy run by the Evangelical Church of WestfalenECEN is involved with the World Council of Churches Climate Change Programme which is part of its wider WCC Ecumenical Earth Programme
WCC's Call to Action in Solidarity with Those Most Affected by Climate Change
a call to churches and other organisations, which links to the WCC publication Solidarity with Victims of Climate ChangeOther Recent Climate Change Documents
Recent Coalition Working Documents
Several ECEN members attended the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August- September 2002.
See our report on ECEN at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, where climate and energy issues figured prominently.Useful Websites and Reports of other Climate NGOs
NEW! www.christian-aid.org.uk/indepth/410smoke/ The Working Group on Climate Change and Development is a recently formed group in the UK that includes some of the Christian Aid and Development Organisations e.g. Tearfund and Christian Aid. It does not have its own website but their Oct 2004 report "Up in Smoke" is available from this page of the Christian Aid website.
www.gci.org.uk - Global Commons Institute - they propose a model of "contraction and convergence" to tackle climate change equitably on a global scale
www.climnet.org - Climate Action Network Europe
www.climatecare.org - Calculate your CO2 emissions and repair your global warming through Climate Care's CO2 reduction projects
www.waterandclimate.org/home.asp - Dialogue on Water and Climate
See also our
Climate Change News ArchiveThis page was last updated 10 January 2005
