WCC Report Urges Reduction in Motorized Mobility
Episcopal News Service. September 3, 1998 [98-2224I]
(ENI) Christians around the world should leave their cars in the garage and think twice before taking airplanes for long journeys, according to a report prepared for the World Council of Churches. The report, Mobility: Prospects of Sustainable Society, has been published by the WCC's program unit on "justice, peace and creation" to stimulate discussion in the WCC's 332 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox member churches. It reflects concern about the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere because of car and plane exhaust emissions. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), are believed to be the main cause of global warming. The report, together with another report on the issue of climate change, has been sent recently to WCC member churches with a request for responses. In a letter accompanying the report, the WCC's general secretary, Dr Konrad Raiser, points out that "motorized mobility is one of the main contributors to the increase of CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions. Mobility is rapidly expanding in all parts of the world and it is therefore urgent that the churches begin to deal with the issue." The report points out that air traffic, which has the highest growth rates among all transport modes, accounts for 15 percent of all CO2 emissions, and that by the year 2030, if present trends continue, the number of private cars around the world will have increased from 500 million to 2300 million vehicles.