Monday, November 3, 2008

"Climate change threatens to make poverty permanent," stated Nelson Muffah, Christian Aid, London, at the seminar "For the Healing of the Nations: International Dimensions of Climate Change," in New York City on September 24. Church World Service sponsored the seminar at the Church Center for the United Nations to explore the linkages between climate change and poverty, and promote just and ecologically sustainable development.

Nelson Muffah, Christian Aid, London, speaking at the CWS seminar "For the Healing of the Nations: International Dimensions of Climate Change," in New York on September 24. Photo: Lynne West/CWS "Climate change threatens to make poverty permanent," stated Nelson Muffah, Christian Aid, London, at the seminar "For the Healing of the Nations: International Dimensions of Climate Change," in New York City on September 24. Church World Service sponsored the seminar at the Church Center for the United Nations to explore the linkages between climate change and poverty, and promote just and ecologically sustainable development.

"Climate change is making it more difficult for many countries to achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals for reducing poverty. Investing in adaptation means increasing aid effectiveness and ensures more sustainable development," said CWS Director of Education and Advocacy Rajyashri Waghray.

Through its Enough for All campaign, Church World Service is educating members and supporters about the connections between climate change and poverty, and how we can work together to address the challenges. At the seminar, CWS launched its first publication in the Enough for All series of resources on climate change, "Healing the Nations."

"While adaptation measures are needed in the developed world, developing countries are already disproportionately experiencing the effects of climate change and have fewer resources to address them," stated Mattias Sorderberg, DanChurchAid, Copenhagen. He explained that the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) negotiations, to which the U.S. is a party, states that developed countries shall provide financial resources for developing countries to meet the "agreed full incremental costs" of implementing mitigation and adaptation activities.

As part of the seminar, the 40-plus participants from CWS member denominations and international non-governmental organizations discussed preparations for the November 2009 Copenhagen Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting on climate change. Sorderberg outlined the "Countdown to Copenhagen" campaign that the European ecumenical community is organizing to identify issues of concern and develop alliances with partners.

"CWS is collaborating with Christian Aid, DanChurchAid, other partners, and member denominations to participate in the Copenhagen Conference. We all need to mobilize public support to advocate for timely and sufficient foreign assistance to help developing nations adapt to the consequences of climate change," stated Waghray.

Related CWS Briefing Papers Climate Change: Adaptation Funding Climate Change: Survey of CWS Member Communions 9/21/08

Join the CWS Speak Out Network to encourage Congress to provide adequate "adaptation" funding to assist low-income countries to address the impact of climate change.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net