More responsible, less optimistic ” “

“Formation in responsibility for the creation and sustainable development” is the theme of the fifth consultation of the Council of the European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) on responsibility for the creation now being held in Wroclaw, in Poland (15-18 May). Discussion will focus, among other things, on the formative methods and actions that the European Churches may adopt with a view to sustainable development and sustainable farming. Some forty representatives from all the countries of Europe will participate. The main speakers include Karl Golser, Simone Morandini, Msgr. Diarmuid Martin and Gerhard Mertens. The Bible and the environment: hope and commitment, rather than optimism. The references that the Bible makes on issues concerning the environment provide the basis “for a positive attitude” which is one not of “optimism but hope”: the point was made by Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool in his opening address at the consultation on the biblical foundations of formation on the environment. “If we think of the history of the last century – he observes –, of the Holocaust, Hiroshima and Chernobyl, we cannot speak of optimism but of hope, and hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit”. The archbishop of Liverpool alludes to the “recent military action in the Gulf” and the facility with which the term “reconstruction” is now being used: “I was greatly disturbed – he says – by the facile assurance that everything would turn out for the best. Optimism justifies us from not taking seriously the consequences of our actions that injure, damage and maim”. “Devoting ourselves to the environment – he concludes – means cooperating in the creation of the environment, of the space and time in which each person may move and be moved only by love. Not guided by envy, domination, greed, fear, anxiety, suspicion, security, or superiority”. Emissions harmful to health are increasing: the EU’s proposals. By 2030 world energy consumption will have doubled (with an annual increase of 1.8%) and emissions of carbon dioxide will be twice higher than they were in 1990. World oil production will increase by 65% and rise to 120 million barrels per day in 2030, with the consequent increase in prices (35 dollars per barrel). Gas production too will double in the next thirty years. The developing countries will represent 50% of world energy demand and the contribution of the USA to carbon dioxide emissions will also increase by 50%, compared with 18% in the European Union. These are some of the gloomy predictions that emerge from a report of the European Commission – published in recent days – which outlines the “ Global prospects for policies on energy, technology and climate by 2030″. The study expresses the hope for a greater use of new (and renewable) energy sources to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and achieve the objectives laid down at Kyoto. “We cannot afford to ignore these data and their implications – said Philippe Busquin, European Commissioner for research -. To safeguard energy sources and meet the commitments we formulated at Kyoto, Europe must intensify its research”. The study provides data useful for the implementation of the sixth framework programme of EU research (PQ6 2003-2006) which aims to allocate 2,120 billion euros to the examination of issues relating to “sustainable development, global change and ecosystems”. The Christian Churches: “contributing to policy change”. “The Churches must contribute to the change of policies that concern environmental issues”: that’s the appeal of the representatives of the European Christian Churches that form part of ECEN (European Christian Environmental Network), a network set up after the Graz Assembly in 1997, composed of representatives of the Churches closely linked with the KEK, the Conference of the European Churches. At its fourth assembly held at Volos, in Greece, in recent days (6-11 May), the importance was underlined of such issues as sustainable development, water, climate change, environmental education, transport and mobility. Some 60 delegates from twenty countries participated in the meeting.