The leaders signed the Uppsala Manifesto at a service in Uppsala Cathedral on November 28 during a two-day Interfaith Climate Summit. The signing was preceded by church bell-ringing, Buddhist gongs, a Sami yoik (spiritual chanting from northern Europe’s Sami people), and recitations in Hebrew, Sanskrit and Tibetan, as well as traditional songs and prayers from the faith traditions present.
“What we think and believe is different in many contexts. Still, when it comes to responsibility for the stewardship of the Earth, which is on loan from God, we are all in agreement,” said (Lutheran) Church of Sweden Archbishop Anders Wejryd in a December 1 statement that coincided with the opening in Poznan, Poland, of a United Nations’ global meeting on climate change.
The archbishop said, “We were able to hold the ceremony, which retained respect for the sanctity of the a Christian house of God, not just as a mishmash of religions but as a manifestation of differences and affinities. Still, we will not be turning this summit into an organization.”
Thirty religious leaders and scholars from various faiths signed the manifesto, which targets the world’s political and religious leaders. Wejryd and the World Council of Churches was to present the manifesto to the Poznan gathering, and the Swedish archbishop told Ecumenical News International that they planned to address the conference on December 11.
The religious leaders in the Uppsala Manifesto called for, “Rapid and large emission cuts in the rich world. Developed countries, especially those in Europe and North America, must lead the way.”
The Poznan meeting hopes to prepare an accord on combating climate change to be agreed in 2009 at a U.N. gathering in Copenhagen. The faith leaders said that any strategy to deal with climate change “must be ambitious enough to keep climate change below 2 degrees Celsius, and to distribute the burden in an equitable way.”
The faith leaders said a model for such a system, called Greenhouse Development Rights, already existed, and that its aim was to create greater justice not only between countries but also between individuals.
The religious leaders who signed the document said they wanted to see major changes, particularly in wealthy countries. Still, the signatories have not placed the responsibility for trying to turn the situation around solely in the hands of politicians. The religious leaders have promised in the manifesto to try to secure major commitments from their own traditions.
They said they would urge and inspire people, “in our own religious and cultural contexts,” to take responsibility for creating measures to combat climate change. They also promised to challenge leaders in both politics and business at home to develop comprehensive strategies and actions.
“This commitment is a deeply spiritual question concerning justice, peace, and hopes for a future in love and solidarity with all human beings and the whole of creation,” the leaders said.
