wfn.org | LWI Council Press Release No.06/2009 350 for Climate Action

["LWFNews" <LWFNews@lutheranworld.org>]

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION  
>LWI News online:
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>LWI Council Press Release No. 06/2009  

350 for Climate Action

LWF Council Affirms Global Commitment to Reducing CO2 Emissions

GENEVA, 24 October 2009 (LWI) - To mark the International Day of
Climate Action on 24 October, more than 100 representatives of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member churches from around
the world celebrated a morning prayer during which they formed
the number 350. 

This was in support of the global campaign 350.org, which
advocates further efforts and commitment to reducing the maximum
level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per
million (ppm).

The climate action prayer was observed in the context of the
22-27 October LWF Council meeting at Chavannes-de-Bogis near
Geneva, Switzerland, whose agenda includes deliberations on
additional efforts to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere to 350
ppm, which experts consider to be the safe upper limit for the
CO2 emissions.

At its June 2008 meeting, in Arusha, Tanzania, the Council
resolved to further engage the LWF and its partners in promoting
strong political commitments that would lead to lowering CO2
levels from 390 to 350 ppm by the year 2020. 

"I very much hope that the Council continues to take further
action toward this goal," said Rev. Roger Schmidt, secretary for
Youth at the Department for Mission and Development, presiding at
the morning prayer. 

"We can no longer wait but must actively contribute to global
ecumenical and interreligious initiatives to respond to this
crisis," asserted LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko
earlier in his report the Council meeting on 23 October. He noted
the organization will also have a delegation with observer status
at the December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in
Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Climate change is also related to the theme of this year’s
Council meeting, "Upholding Human Dignity: Confronting Human
Trafficking," in view of the reality that people who are
displaced by climate-related crises become desperate economic
refugees. (311 words)

Photos on the LWF Council’s support for climate action are
available on the LWF Web site at: www.lutheranworld.org

>*      *      *

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner
organizations are attending this year’s Council meeting at
Chavannes de Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90
registered participants include invited guests, stewards,
interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff. 

The 49-member Council is the LWF’s governing body, meeting
every 12-18 months between Assemblies held every six years. The
current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in
Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer as well
as lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF
regions. 

The Council host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has
6,818 members, and has been an LWF member church since 1979. It
is headed by Ms Dagmar Magold.

>For media related queries, please contact:

>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION 
>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30 
>Editor’s E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org 

At Hotel Chavannes de Bogis, Tel. +41/22-960 81 81
Mobile Tel. +41/76 396 2863

Further information about the 2009 LWF Council meeting is
available on the LWF Web site at: www.lutheranworld.org 

>*      *      *

Around 75 representatives from LWF member churches and partner
organizations are attending this year’s Council meeting at
Chavannes de Bogis near Geneva, Switzerland. An additional 90
registered participants include invited guests, stewards,
interpreters and translators, media persons and LWF staff. 

The 49-member Council is the LWF’s governing body, meeting
every 12-18 months between Assemblies held every six years. The
current Council was appointed at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in
Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the President, Treasurer as well
as lay and ordained persons, representing the different LWF
regions. 

The Council host church, the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has
6,818 members, and has been an LWF member church since 1979. It
is headed by Ms Dagmar Magold.

>For media related queries, please contact:
>LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION 
>Tel.: +41/22-791 63 69 
>Fax: +41/22-791 66 30 
>E-Mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org 

At Hotel Chavannes de Bogis, Tel. +41/22-960 81 81
Mobile Tel. +41/76 396 2863

>*      *      *