Justice Issues-Climate Change

AFRICA – Climate Change
there is an order in the universe which must be respected, and that the human person, endowed with the capability of choosing freely, has a grave responsibility to preserve this order for the well-being of future generations…. the ecological crisis is a moral issue.”  Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace message for 1990

Africa produces less than 4% of the world’s greenhouse gases yet nowhere else are the effects of global warming more visible. Greenhouse gases produced thousands of miles away in the Northern hemisphere are having a detrimental effect on the lives of people in Africa. Lake Chad is half the size it was 35 years ago and the Sahara desert is advancing at the rate of about six kilometers per year, chewing up twelve million hectares of land annually.  Added to this is the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and climate related disasters such as floods and droughts with accompanying famine and land degradation.  Millions of people are already being effected by Climate Change through the loss of land, livelihoods and homes.

 WHAT CAN WE DO
“Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish….May the risen Jesus bring comfort to the victims of natural disasters and make us responsible guardians of creation.
Pope Francis Urbi et Orbi 2013

We can:
Be Aware – Learn about Climate Change.
Join or support a group working or campaigning on climate issues.
Promote family and sustainable farming.
Live in a more energy efficient and sustainable way i.e. reduce our energy consumption, reduce wastage of water, food, buy eco-friendly, fair-trade products and recycle.  

Climate change is a problem created by the industrialised, western world but it is Africa and Africans who are paying the price with their land, health and lives – this is a grave injustice.  

feet
WE POLLUTE OTHERS PAY

Global Warming:  What is it? What Causes it? What effects does it have?  What are the solutions?  Clear and brief answers to all of these questions are given on the National Geographic Website – Click here 
Africa – Climate ChangeSMA Justice Briefing No 22
Climate Change – Overview 

Ghana – dealing with climate change
Climate change a Triple Injustice for Africa and poorer nations
Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) 
Factsheet
See Also:
Catholic Climate Covenant
 Reflection  – to ponder

Previous articleFr Anthony O’Donnell SMA
Next articleJustice issues climate change-climate facts