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ENI-07-0958 By Vanya Walker-Leigh
Nusa Dua, Indonesia, 11 December (ENI)--The Archbishop of Canterbury,
Rowan Williams, in a message to participants at United Nations climate
change talks in Indonesia has said a clear moral vision is needed to
deal with the challenge of global warming.
"Ultimately the control of climate change, ultimately the welfare of
the environment is an issue of survival for everybody," Williams said in
a 10-minute video statement relayed to an 11 December ecumenical
meeting during talks being held at Nusa Dua on the Indonesian island of Bali.
"It is not a question that can be addressed by one society alone, by
one religious tradition alone, by one State alone. Its something that
demands collaboration," said Williams, leader of the worldwide Anglican
Communion in his message for the meeting on the fringes of the
international gathering.
Describing God's justice as timeless, he warned that giving priority to
the interests of present generations over those of the future
generations was an unjust act, which God would judge.
Government negotiators at the 3-14 December UN conference are working
to frame a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which contains
binding targets for some nations to reduce climate change-inducing gas
emissions, but it is set to expire in 2012.
Williams urged faith communities to hold up a "clear moral vision" to
governments and societies.
"This will mean real challenges to developed and prosperous societies,
real challenges to let go of some of their security, and some of their
prosperity," said Williams. "We should be under no illusion that this
will be an easy task."
Negotiators for the United States were reported to have insisted on
removing firm targets for reducing carbon dioxide from the "road map"
being drawn up at the Bali talks.
China's emissions are not covered by Kyoto, and the world's most
populous nation is for its part resisting a call for developing countries to
cut emissions. At best, China says, developing countries can only slow
their growth.
"The biggest challenge that faces us in terms of global policy is how
we are to find ways of reducing and controlling climate change without
eating into the economic aspirations, the proper aspirations of our
poorer societies, towards prosperity, respect and dignity," said Williams.
The Anglican leader's message appeared on screen after an ecumenical
service organized by the World Council of Churches. Such services have
been a regular feature of the annual UN conferences on climate change
that have taken place since 1995. [422 words]
[COURTESY TO ENI AS SOURCE]
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