What would Jesus say at the Copenhagen summit?

24 November 2009

Sir John, with Derrick Powell (Wimborne Minster environmental group chair) & Jean Morgan (St John's, & A Rocha rep), two of the organisers

It's an important question and one which Sir John Houghton, guest speaker at a climate justice event in November, tackled with enthusiasm. Sir John, renowned climate scientist and member of the A Rocha UK council of reference, spoke of the unequivocal evidence for global warming caused by human activity and its devastating impacts.

Addressing specifically the Christian imperative suggested by the title, Sir John urged us to take seriously the biblical commands to care for the earth and to care for the poor. He also encouraged us to pray for the Copenhagen climate summit in December, in particular for the US delegation, whose stance is crucial for progress to be made towards any international agreement.

Full house

Close on 400 people packed into St John’s Church, Wimborne, Dorset, on 10 November for the event which was organised by members of the environmental groups at St John’s and Wimborne Minster, and supported by A Rocha, Christian Aid and Tearfund.

Many of those attending were inspired to respond. They completed Tearfund and Christian Aid campaign cards to send to their MPs and also signed up for the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition demonstration, ‘The Wave’, in London on 5 December. The A Rocha stand did steady business, with plenty of literature being taken. And 100% renewable energy suppliers, Good Energy, should be getting a good number of new subscribers…

In all it was a wonderful evening and a great example of local groups working together to highlight an issue of global importance and enabling many to take action.

Seven years

In his address Sir John, who for 14 years chaired or co-chaired the Scientific Assessment Working Group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, also referred to the story of Joseph, made famous in the musical 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'. In a recent briefing reflecting on the same story he calls Joseph Pharoah's 'climate supremo' and writes, 'Four thousand years ago Joseph had seven years to prepare for his climate crisis. Today, action is required just as urgently. Global carbon emissions are still rising rapidly. Within about seven years, well before 2020, global emissions need to peak and begin rapidly to reduce – an extremely challenging goal. The means to achieve it are available and the cost affordable. But is the will there to do it?'

So – what would Jesus say at Copenhagen? To developed nations like ours, he would no doubt include what he said in Luke 12 v 48: ‘Much is required from the person to whom much is given.’

To help persuade our political leaders to 'give much', come to The Wave to march and pray in London or Glasgow on 5 December – details.

For more information on the A Rocha Dorset and West Hampshire Community Group coordinated by David and Jean Morgan see here.