With representatives from governments across the world continuing to meet in Durban this week for climate change discussions, faith leaders have urged them to act decisively before it is too late.
The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) is negotiating a follow-up agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains the current binding targets for carbon emission cuts. However, experts are concerned with a lack of progress since the talks began a week ago, specifically in regard to binding carbon emission cuts and a financial package to help impoverished countries adapt to the impact of climate change.
A group of faith leaders that includes Ela Ghandi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Ghandi, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Durban, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier have released a strong interfaith statement urging governments to act before "irreparable" damage is done to the Earth.
“We call upon our leaders, those of our faiths, and all people of Earth to accept the reality of the common danger we face, the imperative and responsibility for immediate and decisive action, and the opportunity to change,” reads the statement.
Cardinal Napier is especially concerned that government representatives will fail to reach any meaningful agreement.
“We express our displeasure with local and international political leadership which has failed to take decisive steps to make the changes required for the survival of humanity and life on earth,” he said.
“We as the religious community demand that our political leaders honour previous commitments and move towards ethically responsible positions and policies.
“There is strong evidence that such steps will not be made at COP 17.”
This faith declaration has been backed up Christian Aid, with the agency's climate expert, Mohamed Adow, warning that people around the world could expect suffering on a “huge” scale if nothing is done to address the problems now.
“We want to leave Durban with a deal which is a strong response to the climate chaos which is hurtling towards us – and which is already having devastating effects on poor people,” he said.
“Governments need to agree how to respond to the latest climate science, which shows that without deep emissions cuts now, dangerous global warming will occur.
“It will cause human suffering on a terrifying scale.”