RESOLUTION - R5

TITLE:Call for the Government of Canada to honour its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change of April 1998.

ORIGINAL SOURCE:Church in Society and World Affairs committees, sponsors of the Renewal of Earth Task Group

CONFERENCE ACTION:Carried

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:postage

SOURCE OF FUNDS:Conference budget

STAFFING IMPLICATIONS:letter-writing

VOLUNTEER IMPLICATIONS:urge all members of Conference and congregations to write the Canadian Government urging compliance.

MOTION by John Lawson/Brian Goodings that this 77th annual meeting of Toronto Conference write the Government of Canada urging:
•design and implemention of a long term plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in co-ordination with other levels of government and with the citizens of Canada;
•ratification of the April 1998 Kyoto Protocol;
•legislation of a comprehensive package of measures including adoption of alternative transportation technologies and alternative fuel sources and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the necessary funding to implement these measures.


RATIONALE AND FAITH BASE

•There is now little doubt that human activity in the form of greenhouse gas emissions is linked to the warming of the world’s climate. This warming is expected to cause disasters in many parts of the world - more severe storms, rising sea levels, drought and flooding, melting of the polar ice-caps.  These changes will affect us all but especially the most vulnerable in the world, in particular the two-thirds of the world that is poor.

•We believe that God calls us to be good stewards of God’s world and that the fruits and resources are to be protected and shared for all living creatures and as well for all those who will come after us.

•The rich industrial countries are the major source of all greenhouse gases. Canada, for example emits close to 20 tonnes of CO2 per person.  In contrast, India produces only .18 tonnes per person. Those who have benefited materially from the exploitation of the resources of the earth need to take responsibility and leadership in reversing the damage they have done.

•At the U.N. Climate Change Conference in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, Canada committed to cut emissions by 6% below 1990 levels by 2012.  In 2000, Canadian emissions were 10-12% above 1990 levels.  In follow up U.N. meetings in The Hague in Nov. 2000, Canada tried to duck its commitments in Kyoto by joining with other developed countries in arguing for “emissions trading” (treating the atmosphere as a global marketplace) that would allow “buying credits” from low emissions countries. This means that Canada and other industrial countries would buy their way out of their responsibilities and take no serious steps to clean up pollution.

•One Earth Community: Ethical Principles for Environment and Development (34th General Council) called us to live with respect in creation and take responsibility for its healing. The third year of the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative, of which the United Church is a part, focuses on the Healing of the Earth as our response to the biblical call for Jubilee in Leviticus 25. We are called upon as Christians to “give the earth a break” and to live life-styles that would be less destructive of our environment.  We are also called as citizens to urge our governments to work for the protection of the planet for the common good.