BISHOPS who are confronting rising sea-levels, deforestation,
droughts, and tsunamis in their dioceses met in Cape Town this week
to devise strategies for "climate justice".
Sixteen bishops from some of the provinces most affected by
climate change were gathered by the Chair of the Anglican Communion
Environmental Network, the Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd
Thabo Makgoba.
The Bishop of New York, the Rt Revd Andrew Dietsche, described
the impact that Hurricane Sandy had had on the United States, while
the Bishop of Harare, the Rt Revd Chad Gandiya, spoke of flooding
in the cities of Zimbabwe because of developments on wetlands.
Deforestation in Zambia meant the loss of about 300,000 hectares
every year, the Bishop of Eastern Zambia, the Rt Revd William
Mchombo, reported.
The bishops are already active in responding to climate change,
and shared strategies and theologies that have proved useful in
their respective regions, with a view to closer collaboration. The
group will become "visible in offering biblical and moral
leadership in the area of climate justice", the Environmental
Co-ordinator for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, the Revd
Rachel Mash, said in a briefing published last week.
A report will be produced, and it is hoped that "more Anglicans
will understand that responding to climate change is part of our
baptismal vocation", and will "speak out on behalf of those
experiencing the worst effects of climate change".
Comment; Features