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Climate change is causing massive violations of human rights. This point was made at a side event on “human rights and climate change” during the 22nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Negotiations in Doha have achieved little in the way of a fair and binding treaty that could reverse the current trends in climate change. This was the observation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) delegates at the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 18.

En una declaración leída el 9 de diciembre a los gobiernos miembros de todo el mundo en la cumbre de las Naciones Unidas sobre el clima, celebrada en Durban, Sudáfrica, el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (CMI) reafirmó la necesidad de un tratado justo, ambicioso y vinculante para afrontar eficazmente los efectos del cambio climático sobre comunidades vulnerables.

In a statement read on 9 December to government members from around the world at the United Nations climate summit in Durban, South Africa, the World Council of Churches (WCC) reaffirmed the need for a fair, ambitious and binding treaty to effectively address climate change effects on vulnerable communities.

“Este es el único hogar que tenemos”, dijo el arzobispo Desmond Tutu refiriéndose a la importancia crucial de nuestro planeta y su supervivencia, durante un encuentro interreligioso en el que se exhortó a la conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el cambio climático a llegar a un acuerdo justo, ambicioso y vinculante que permita hacer frente eficazmente al cambio climático.

“This is the only home we have,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu referring to the crucial significance of our planet and its survival. He was speaking in an interfaith rally in Durban, urging the United Nations conference on climate change (COP17) to deliver a fair, ambitious and binding treaty to address climate change effectively.

Climate change is impacting human life and nature in severe ways. Yet it is the vulnerable who suffer most. As the life of such people is dependent on eco-systems for survival, churches join hands with other faith based organizations to support their cause, stressing an ethical aspect in the debate on climate change.

By Elizabeth S. Tapia (*)