Thursday 17. May 2012
Sustainable Development

Content:

The COMECE Secretariat supports an ambitious EU climate policy within its dialogue with the EU institutions, through publications and events and by participating in public hearings. It supports the view that European decision-makers should pay particular attention to the welfare of future generations and of people in developing countries, who will be especially hard hit by the impacts of climate change, despite not being responsible for global warming. In addition, the COMECE Secretariat supports the promotion of sustainable consumption and environmentally friendly lifestyles characterised by voluntary moderation and reflection on the real, non-material values of life.

EU’s competence

unknownEuropean environmental policy is based on Articles 174 to 176 of the EC Treaty (Articles 191 to 193 of the future Treaty on the Functioning of the EU). Harmonising legislation is generally passed jointly by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament through the co-decision procedure. Moreover, according to Article 6 of the EC Treaty (Article 11 TFEU), environmental conservation requirements must also be taken into account when establishing and implementing other Community policies. The new Treaty on the Functioning of the EU mentions the battle against climate change as a particular aim of European environmental policy for the first time (in Article 191, paragraph 1).

The Church's vision

unknown"The Church has a responsibility towards creation and she must assert this responsibility in the public sphere," says Pope Benedict XVI in his latest encyclical letter, Caritas in Veritate. Conservation of the environment, sustainable development and responsible use of the earth's natural resources are an inherent part of Catholic social doctrine. In his encyclical letter, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us: "We must recognize our grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it. This means being committed to making joint decisions "after pondering responsibly the road to be taken, decisions aimed at strengthening that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying"(para 50). This call for intergenerational justice is being severely tested in particular by human-induced climate change .

COMECE's contribution

unknownIn November 2007, with the aim of making a solid contribution to the discussion on climate protection, the COMECE bishops set up a working group on climate change. Its members are ten public European figures from the fields of politics and science - including many climate experts of international standing. The working group was chaired by former Austrian EU Commissioner Franz Fischler. In October 2008 the working group published its final report entitled 'A Christian View on Climate Change - The Implications for Lifestyles and EU Policies'.


On 17 June 2009 Churches and church organisations discussed with EU representatives the ethical dimension of the fight against climate change. The Dialogue Seminar organised by the CSC of CEC, COMECE, and the Bureau of European Policy Advisers of the European Commission was dedicated to the issue of "climate change as a challenge for lifestyles, solidarity and global justice". For a whole day, representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament and Member States exchanged views with representatives of the Churches on the basis of the latest scientific evidence on climate change.

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