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A statement calling for a binding agreement on climate crisis, and a call for two degrees rise in temperature, the internationally-agreed target for limiting global warming, was presented to the French President Francois Hollande by representatives of the Conference of Religious Leaders of France (CRCF) on 1 July at the Elysée Palace in Paris, France.
In their meeting with the French president and other government officials, including the ecology minister and the interior minister, the CRCF representatives discussed moral aspects of climate change and preparations for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), which will be held in the French capital this December.
The two demands made in the statement echo the ACT Alliance’s climate change advocacy campaign ACT Now for Climate Justice – an initiative strongly supported by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and its programme for climate justice.
In the text of the statement, the group stressed conviction that the climate crisis is a spiritual and moral challenge. “It is first and foremost our relationship with nature and with creation as a gift of God that is at stake,” reads the statement.
Signed by representatives from the Bishops’ Conference of France (CEF), the Protestant Federation of France (FPF), the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France (AEOF), the Buddhist Union of France (UBF), the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), the chief Rabbi of France and the president of the Jewish Consistory Council of France, the document highlights a strong concern for the future generations.
“Our spiritual and moral conscience is challenged. We are challenged to act for justice, to work for peace, and to prepare urgently a safe and viable future for our children, to leave behind the era of energy that pollutes, and to rethink our economic models of production and unlimited consumption,” reads the statement.
The delegation included Martin Kopp, a young leader of the Lutheran World Federation, and Laura Morosini from the Christians United for the Earth. The two delegates have played a key role in setting up the Fast for the Climate initiative in France.
The meeting of French religious leaders with President Hollande was followed by a strong social media action coordinated by the Fast for the Climate campaign, in which climate justice activists called for “COP 21 to enable a just transition to a safe climate future”.
The statement demands commitment by world leaders “to a timely end to the era of fossil fuels and sets out the bringing together of objectives for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions so that the average temperature rise be kept to well below 2°C, and which includes rules that ensure transparency, responsibility and a process of regular review of the objectives; the protection of the most vulnerable populations from the impact of change by helping them to adapt to this impact and by taking into account the loss and damage they suffer; the promotion of both responsible ecological development and the fight against poverty by guaranteeing adequate financing, technological transfer and reinforcing knowledge and expertise.”
The CRCF was created on 23 November 2010. It brings together six groups of religious leaders from Buddhist organizations, churches (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant), as well as organizations representing Islam and Judaism.
For Rev. Francois Clavairoly, president of the Protestant Federation of France, and one of the religious leaders who helped to write the text, the work on climate justice is helping to increase mutual collaboration both between Christian churches and between faith leaders in the country.
“Until about eighteen months ago religions in France had not federated their knowledge about climate change. We are grateful that preparations for COP21 have raised awareness of the climate crisis, and also given us a lot of theological and spiritual work,” said Clavairoly. “The Fast for the Climate campaign helps build a grass roots movement, involving all in the walk of responsibility towards a safe climate future.”
Statement on the climate crisis by the Conference of Religious Leaders of France
