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Resuscitating Economic Growth Must Not Be to the Detriment of Climate Protection
Church Leaders from Germany, England and Sweden
December 9, 2008
In a joint letter to the current chairperson of the Council of the European Union, French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Church of Sweden Anders Wejryd, and the Chairperson of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) Bishop Wolfgang Huber warned against using the current financial and economic crisis to relax climate protection efforts. In the letter, which was also addressed to Chancellor Angela Merkel and the heads of government of Great Britain and Sweden, the three religious leaders declared that measures to resuscitate the economy must not compromise efforts towards achieving sustainable development. "We call upon our governments to strengthen their commitment to addressing the challenge of climate change." Ahead of the European Summit in Brussels on 11-12 December 2008, the religious leaders urged European leaders "to ensure that climate considerations are not marginalized in the search to find short and medium-term solutions to immediate economic pressures."
The financial, food and fuel crisis of 2008 strongly suggest that the dominant economic models of the twentieth century have their limitations, they wrote. "Learning to live within our planet's means is the new challenge and we must approach it with a sense of realism, a sense of justice and a sober assessment of the legacy we are creating for our children's children." Re-focusing the global economy towards, for example, investments in "clean technologies," offers the most promising options for real and sustainable growth. "The supposition that environmental protection yields significant economic benefits, as well as ecological gains, is substantiated by Europe's own emerging green economy, which, according to the European Commission (January 2008), currently boasts a 227 billion euro turnover with 3.4 million jobs."
The letter indicated that, through conversations with partner churches from around the world, many of whom were experiencing the pressing realities of climate change on a daily basis, it was clear that Europe's progress was being closely monitored. "We are concerned, therefore, that as the global climate negotiations approach a critical moment, Europe appears to be using the current financial and economic crisis to modify key elements in its own climate package." The choice is not between economic growth and environmental protection, the heads of the Church of England, of Church of Sweden and of EKD insisted. "Working sustainably for the global common good and respecting the integrity of God's creation are not alternatives - they are one and the same."
The three spiritual leaders were encouraged by the fact that the current financial crisis and economic recession, rather than constituting a threat, represented an "historic opportunity to bring about tomorrow's low carbon economy today." According to the church leaders, European public opinion places climate change at the top of its priorities. "We believe that this is change that people can believe in and support. Please be assured that you and other Heads of Government will be in our thoughts and prayers at this critical juncture."
Hanover, 9 December 2008
Press Office of the EKD
Silke Römhild