Msikaba Gorge

09 May 2011

Extract from the "Lusaka Faith Leaders’ Statement" :

As people of faith from southern Africa, we have gathered and reflected at a faith-based regional workshop on climate change organised by the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCISSA) in Lusaka, Zambia (4–6 May). We believe we are confronted with a common challenge that threatens the wellbeing of the planet, indeed of humanity. We, as faith communities, acknowledge that we have not always played our stewardship role as we should. We acknowledge that each of us has a responsibility to care for our planet and we call on all communities to join us in accepting fully this responsibility.

It is clear that Africans are already profoundly and directly affected by climate change. We faith leaders of Southern Africa wish to remind South Africa that it is part of Africa, and that we stood with South Africa during the dark years of apartheid. We now call on South Africa to stand again with its neighbours rather than continuing with a growth path that will help make all our countries victims of a climate change disaster.

Read the full statement.... (PDF file. 86Kb)

Participants at the Southern African faith leaders climate change meeting in preparation for COP17, held in Lusaka on 5 and 6 May.