The Archbishop of Canterbury and Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu were among the leading Anglican voices who appealed for prompt, effective action before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban late last year.
Dr Rowan Williams, in a video address in support of a multifaith rally led by Archbishop Tutu on the eve of the 29 November-9 December conference, said it was no time for despair but no time for complacency either.
“The moral crisis is as real as ever,” Dr Williams said. “The effects of environmental pressure and change are more and more felt day by day especially by the most vulnerable people on the face of the planet. And we need as never before real moral leadership from our governments, from the international community.”
He said the world needed to see guarantees about emissions cuts, some clarity about an integrated response to questions around clean energy, food security, clean water and biodiversity.
“We need joined up thinking in this area. We need to think of the environment as a whole, not just in bits.
“It would be a tragedy if as adults, as leaders, as governments, as opinion-formers, we didn’t live up to the expectations and the possibilities that our young people have shown us.”
Archbishop Tutu, who hosted the “We Have Faith – Act Now for Climate Justice” rally and concert in Durban, said the same passion and determination was needed to defeat climate change as was mobilised for what seemed to be the overwhelming challenge of apartheid.
“Climate change is an even greater threat to us than apartheid was because as temperatures rise, millions of Africans will be deprived of water and crops,” he said. “This will cause enormous suffering. It is something we simply cannot allow.”
But another South African bishop later compared rich countries’ behaviour in Durban with apartheid, saying wealthy nations were trying to keep power and wealth for themselves.
Bishop Geoff Davies, who runs the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, said: “Here we are on South African soil where apartheid was defeated. Yet we are seeing a global apartheid. Rich countries are keeping wealth and power for themselves.”
Ecumenical News International reported on 14 December that Christian leaders and activists believed the Durban talks had done too little to respond to the impact of climate change on poor countries.
[with ENInews, Ekklesia]