Monday 14 May 2007 

The Holy See told the United Nations that present models of consumption must be changed to address the double challenge of climate change and the ever greater energy demands.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations, participated in the 15th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development entitled "Turning Political Commitments Into Action, Working Together in Partnership" on 10 May.

In his address, Archbishop Migliore asserted that "the question of energy is rapidly becoming one of the key questions of the entire international agenda."

He explained: "In order to address the double challenge of climate change and the need for ever greater energy resources, we will have to change our present model from one of the heedless pursuit of economic growth in the name of development, toward a model which heeds the consequences of its actions and is more respectful toward the creation we hold in common, coupled with an integral human development for present and future generations."

The archbishop continued: "The complexity of the promotion of sustainable development is evident to all; there are, however, certain underlying principles which can direct research toward adequate and lasting solutions.

"Recently, we have heard of economies that have managed to grow while actually reducing their consumption of energy. Surely this success holds out hope that our current economic model does not always oblige us to use more and more energy in order to grow."

"Economic growth does not have to mean greater consumption," Archbishop Migliore stated.

He said: "From the standpoint of a sustainable economy, it does, however, mean that we will need technology, ingenuity, determined political will and common sense.

"Importantly, it will also demand technology transfer to developing countries, to the benefit of the entire global community."

"But even technology, its transfer and political will to collaborate at the international level are not enough," the archbishop continued. "To all that we must add national education schemes that will lead all of us without exception to approach our daily patterns of consumption and production in a very different way and to demand a similar change throughout construction, transport, businesses and other institutions.

"Remedies are not beyond our ingenuity, but we should be careful not to choose a path that will make things worse, especially for the poor."

Archbishop Migliore added, "We cannot simply uninvent the modern world, but there is still time to use technology and education to promote universally sustainable development before it is too late."

[Zenit]