At the NCCA
Ecumenical leaders push for sustainable future of earth at Rio+20
Friday, 15 June 2012 15:16
From the World Council of Churches
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit both have pressed for the future sustainability of earth and stronger commitments for ecological justice at Rio+20.
In his message, Bartholomew I pointed out the challenges world leaders will face in “correcting the degradation of the planet” at Rio+20. He said that the “delegates must look beyond the surface of problems in order to probe their root causes, which lie in the human heart and mind. A satisfactory conclusion to the Earth Summit requires a penetration into the root causes of ecological afflictions. An easy approach will not solve these problems.”
Signifying the “ecology of heart and mind” in his message, the Ecumenical Patriarch asked the participants to “perceive the world as having a spiritual as well as a physical dimension”, since the “world is a sacred place as well as our only home”.
“What we are proposing and proclaiming here is not just theological rhetoric. For many people, these issues are now a matter of life and death,” he added.
Recalling the challenges issued by past global initiatives for climate justice, and its relation to “green economy”, one of the main themes at Rio+20, Tveit said, “Our children are asking why we have not been able to achieve more in these twenty years.”
“Justice and peace criteria should permeate the contents of a green economy, which should be based on principles such as sustainability, dignity, equity, sufficiency, inclusion and resilience,” added Tveit. Highlighting the theme of his message, he concluded by saying, “We do have hope. We believe God renews the whole creation through the Spirit so that life prevails.”