As church bells rang throughout the world Dec. 13 to mark Christianity's commitment to combating climate change, Anglican leaders were making their voices heard about global warming in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Each year the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) publishes an anthology of liturgical material for Creation Time. This year’s liturgical material is entitled: ”Turn, then, and live”, based on Ezekiel 18:32. It is compiled by the National Council of Churches in Denmark Climate Change Working Group.
In advance of the EU summit this month, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden and the Presiding Bishop of EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland) have written to the President of the Council of the European Union, HE Nicolas Sarkozy, urging him to ensure that "that climate considerations are not marginalised in the search to find short and medium term solutions to immediate economic pressures."
European church leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, have warned governments that "Substantially reducing global emissions of greenhouse gasses will not avoid the serious impacts of climate change already experienced by many of the world's most vulnerable communities".
ROME, Oct. 22 A new United Nations agency aimed at protecting the environment while helping expedite economic development for developing countries will be set up in the northern Italian city of Trieste, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Saturday.
According to the report, the Institute on a Partnership for Environmental Development agency (IPED) will help set environmental targets for the UN's priority development projects.
A team of international experts will gather in Trieste to provide necessary knowledge and measures to the technicians and managers from developing countries on how to effectively combine the economic development with environmental protection, which is the major concern for development experts.
Italian Environment Minister Altero Matteoli said: "We've kicked off the creation of this important institute which will help build an environmental professional elite group all over the world. "
"IPED will provide targeted training to meet the specific demands of developing countries," he said.
IPED is part of the UN's wider program of "building capacities" in the developing world rather than merely providing aid and expertise to the less developed countries.
Besides IPED, Italy also hosts three UN agencies, all located in Rome: the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Program (WFP).