Stewardship, Integrity of Creation and Climate Justice: Religious Ethics Insights - Earth Stewardship: Linking Ecology and Ethics in Theory and Practice - page 376

prevailing economic strategy of promoting endless growth and production of goods
and a seemingly insatiable level of consumption … [which] are leading to the deple-
tion of critical natural resources and to extremely dangerous implications with
climate change and development (WCC 2007b , 1).
From this perspective, while stating the different dimensions of the climate
change crisis (ecological, social, economic, cultural and political), delegates at COP
in 2010 called for a holistic approach and stressed that:
in the churches' perspective, justice must be the basic criterion of applied ethics in all decisions
concerning the measures to cope with climate change. Although climate change is a global
issue affecting all peoples and nations, those who are and will increasingly be affected by
negative climate change consequences are the vulnerable communities who have contributed
the least to global emissions. These include women and children, indigenous peoples, poorest
communities, people with disabilities, and inhabitants of coastal low-lying areas. Vulnerable
communities and states are also much more dependent on natural resources for their subsis-
tence and do not have the means to mitigate emissions and to adapt to climate change. Their
survival is at risk, and justice requires that the nations that are most responsible historically
for the adverse ecological conditions should take the greatest responsibility towards the adap-
tation of these vulnerable communities and nations (WCC and LWF 2010 , 1-2).

This ethical understanding of climate change is not only coming from religious
organizations. The basis for this interpretation comes from the UNFCCC itself
(UNFCCC 1992 ). Article 3 of the Convention presents the principles that should
guide the international community when responding to climate change challenges.
Principle 1 refers to critical points: the concern for present and future generations;
equity as a basis for climate measures; the “common but differentiated responsibilities
and respective capabilities” the leading role developed countries should have in com-
bating climate change. Principle 2 pays special attention to the needs and circumstances
of developing countries and vulnerable communities that deserve particular consider-
ation. The “precautionary principle” is addressed in Principle 3, stressing the impor-
tance of anticipating, preventing or minimizing the causes and mitigating effects.
Interestingly, the principle already responds to climate sceptics, affi rming that “the
lack of full scientifi c certainty—which is never attainable in any circumstance—
should not be used as a reason for postponing such measures.” The right to develop-
ment, specifi cally sustainable development, is addressed in Principle 4, while links
between climate change and economics are highlighted in Principle 5, recalling their
intricate interconnection. These principles have ethical implications which have been
picked up by states that are party to the Convention, NGOs, as well as academia.

25.3 Stewardship, Sustainability and Integrity:

A Brief History

This understanding of Earth stewardship as the care for creation and climate justice
is not something new in Christian understanding. In the 1970s the WCC started talk-
ing about “sustainable communities”, responding to the threats of economic differ-
ences and ecological destruction. At a WCC world conference on science and