Evangelical Perspectives on Climate and Air
Oxford Declaration on Global Warmingcont.
Forum 2002: Global Climate Change
Oxford, England, July 14–17, 2002

• A greater incidence of diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever and cholera, is expected.
• Sea-level rise and increased flooding is already displacing people and will eventually affect tens of millions especially in low income countries. Some island states are likely to disappear altogether.
• Important ecosystems, such as coral reefs and forests, will be destroyed or drastically altered, undermining the very foundation of a sustainable world.

Action is needed now, both to arrest climate change and to adapt to its effects.

• We must take immediate steps to stabilize the climate. This means reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide (the most important greenhouse gas) to below 1990 levels well before the middle of the 21st century.
• While industrialized nations have largely caused the problem, its most severe effects fall upon the peoples of developing countries. Industrialized countries need therefore to make much greater reductions in emissions in order to allow for economic growth in developing countries.
• We urge industrialized nations to take the lead in reducing their emissions. They have the technical, financial and institutional ability to do so now.

• We urge industrialised countries to assist developing countries in gaining access to cleaner and renewable forms of energy.
• We urge that actions be taken to increase energy efficiency, in transportation, buildings and industry. Many actions can produce savings or be taken at little or no net cost. Examples were presented to the Forum of such actions by 38 major multinational companies.
• We urge greater use and development of renewable sources of energy.
• We urge increased financial investment and that banking initiatives be grasped to enable the necessary changes.

Action is needed now, both to arrest climate change and to adapt to its effects.

• We must take immediate steps to stabilize the climate. This means reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide (the most important greenhouse gas) to below 1990 levels well before the middle of the 21st century.
• While industrialized nations have largely caused the problem, its most severe effects fall upon the peoples of developing countries. Industrialized countries need therefore to make much greater reductions in emissions in order to allow for economic growth in developing countries.
  • We urge industrialized nations to take the lead in reducing their emissions. They have the technical, financial and institutional ability to do so now.