In the diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Times a member of the Carbon Neutrality Commission gives the readers an update of what is happening in this area of life.
The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. About 40,000 people attended the general assembly, including heads of state and delegations from 80 countries, including US President Biden, French President Macron, and German Chancellor Schultz. A number of people from Korea also attended.
One thing that stands out at this year's conference is that the word "Justice" appeared a lot. In particular, it was the first time he saw a demonstration demanding "responsibility and compensation" from developed countries take place within the boundaries of the conference hall. Now, 'climate change' is evolving from 'climate crisis' to 'climate justice'.
In order to fundamentally reduce meteorological disasters, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although 30 years have passed since the adoption of the Climate Change Convention, mankind has still not succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Global greenhouse gas emissions, which were 38 billion tons in 1990, increased more than 1.5 times to 59 billion tons as of 2019. Korea's greenhouse gas emissions increased more, increasing 2.4 times from 300 million tons in 1990 to 700 million tons in 2019. As a result, the world is suffering from the worst heatwave and longest wildfire situation. Korea also suffered great damage from unprecedented heavy rain in Seoul in early August, and in Pakistan, more than 1,700 people died as a result of a major flood and 1/3 of the country was submerged in water.
In the aftermath of the global meteorological disaster, 'Loss & Damage' was adopted as an official agenda for the first time at this climate change conference. The question is who will pay how much. Developing countries strongly demand immediate and effective countermeasures, saying that they can't stand it any longer, but developed countries, while acknowledging their responsibility for climate change, are afraid that they will be overwhelmed with a huge burden. It is fortunate that the Conference of the Parties concluded two days ahead of its closing and agreed to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to support the most vulnerable countries.
The Sinai Peninsula, where the Climate Change Conference was held, is where Moses arrived 3 months after he led the liberated Israelites from Egypt, and is where the Lord Himself appeared before the Israelites at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). While receiving God's commandments on the mountain, the Israelites made an idol, the 'Golden Calf', worshiped it, held sacrifices, and ate, drank, danced, and played in front of it. Moses took the golden calf, had the idol melted down, pulverized, and mixed with water and gave it to the Israelites to drink (Exodus 32).
As Pope Francis pointed out, what jeopardizes our "common home" is a selfish economic model that pursues the vain fantasy of infinite economic growth (「Our Mother Earth」 2020), that is the modern version of the 'golden calf'. In order to protect the public good, 'climate', Pope Francis emphasized joint agreement and solidarity in action based on the principles and norms of international law. Developed countries, which have contributed to climate change by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases in the process of economic growth, must step forward.
Modern civilized life that only pursues convenience and wastes resources and energy is another 'golden calf' we have to deal with. Breaking this golden calf requires fundamental changes in our lifestyles, production and consumption, as the Pope emphasized. To do this, we have to bear the burden of inconvenience and moderation and sometimes cost, but it is realistically difficult for ordinary people to bear it. This is why believers who pursue the 'common good' must step forward. Our church and believers must take the lead in protecting Earth, our sister and beautiful mother.
