21 December 2009
Free Churches condemn failure to reach climate deal
The Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches have
condemned the world's richest countries for failing to reach a
binding agreement at the Copenhagen climate change summit.
The Free Churches have been arguing that, as the world's biggest
carbon emitters, developed countries have a moral responsibility to
take the lead in agreeing a new deal to counter global warming when
the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. "The failure by negotiators at
the climate talks in Copenhagen to agree to cut carbon emissions by
40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, after two weeks of
negotiations, represents an immense set-back for rich and poor
countries alike," said the Revd John Marsh, moderator of the
general assembly of the United Reformed Church.
"History will judge our generation harshly for failing to act on
the clear scientific evidence for global warming linked to human
activity," he added. "We therefore urge the British government to
continue exerting pressure on all key players to agree the
necessary cuts in emissions to reduce the risk of global
temperatures rising above 2 degrees."
The Revd Graham Sparkes, head of Faith and Unity at the Baptist
Union of Great Britain, said: "No doubt people will point the
finger of blame in many different directions. But the fact is that
those who will suffer most have no voice and no political power.
They are the poorest in our world, and are least equipped to deal
with the catastrophic effects of climate change."
Steve Hucklesby, policy adviser for the Methodist Church, said:
"The reality is that the US, Europe, Australia and some others are
emitting a great deal more greenhouse gases than our eco-system can
sustain. The science is clear; we know what needs to done to
prevent catastrophic climate change. There is no realistic
alternative to a strong international treaty that commits developed
nation states to deep cuts in emissions."