For seven days thousands of people from all parts of the world met in Durban, South Africa, to talk about climate change, to highlight the dangers of increasing carbon emissions, to share their experiences, to promote their projects and, in theory at least, to develop plans for the future. What was achieved? The answer to that question will only be revealed in the years ahead. The importance of forests in keeping our climate and environment stable was emphasized. As we know, deforestation is a major problem today and is causing untoward suffering to people in many parts of the world for whom it is a home and the source of their livelihood.

Monoculture practices such as the planting of huge areas of eucalyptus or pine trees damage our environment and are in opposition to our forests which are areas of bio-diversity.

“When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope.” – Professor Wangari Maathai

The contribution of small farmers who feed 70 percent of the world’s population was brought to our attention many times. These people know the local agricultural calendar which dictates the times for sowing and planting. They understand soil fertility management, local pest control and crop diversification. This indigenous knowledge must be preserved.

CO2 emissions attributed to agriculture can be blamed on big farmers not on small-scale farmers. One of the biggest problems discussed dealt with seeds. The indigenous seeds can withstand and adapt to changes in weather patterns. The damage done by genetically modified GM seeds is difficult to calculate but the effects of their prevalence can be seen in crop failure, in the economic collapse of many small farmers and worse still in the increase in the rate of suicides among small farmers, particularly in India. Much time was given to discussions on the practice of carbon offset projects: a practice which really turns farms into trading units and does nothing to reduce carbon emissions. Who owns the carbon? How do you calculate the amount of carbon saved by planting more trees or by some other carbon-saving project? Carbon trading has in fact become a business and a source of wealth for speculators.

Cormac Cullinan, author of ‘Wild Law’ spoke about our moral responsibility to care for the earth and asked the questions: ‘Who is listening to the beings of the earth that are being destroyed? What are our obligations to the earth community of which humans are a part? Do we allow nature to heal us — the ocean, the forest talk to our inner beings. He pointed out that in the village the market was confined: now the whole world is a market. Everything is up for sale—the earth, air, carbon, water—those with money get everything, those without cannot. Promoting commodification is turning nature, our God-given garden, into objects to be consumed. A declaration on the rights of mother earth is necessary. ‘All of the universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.’ Thomas Berry

Reducing effects of climate change

I left Durban with a greater knowledge and a clearer understanding of what climate change means and how it affects all of us. The experience renewed my energy and enthusiasm to work for change.

Immaculata Devine rsm
South Africian Province