Buddhism & Climate Change

[Nigel]

Dear Dhamma Friends,

In my work life I have been learning a lot more about the problems, impacts, causes and politics of climate change. Recently I used a Google Search to find out more about how Buddhists around the world are analysing and responding to the challenges and threats of climate change. I have loaded some of the most interesting ones on the Hout Bay Theravada Buddhist Centre website Links page www.theravada.org.za/links.asp You may have some other links to recommend.

I'd like to encourage a forum here on Engaged Buddhists about people working on climate and environment issues. In particular, I am going to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties in December, in Poznan, Poland and I would like to link to other Buddhists to help share our perspectives and actions with the COP.

My email is via the Centre, [e-mail]

Yours with metta
Nigel

[Shane]

It was actually quite nice. We had an hour long meditation, something that I'm not used to. There was a silent vegetarian meal, a few hours rest and then a short bitter tea ceremony. It was a great day.

[Nigel]

Dear Dhamma Friends,

I've posted my comments about the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change on our South African Theravada website. I've reviewed what my impressions were of the Conference of Parties and highlighted the significance of the Uppsala Interfaith Climate Manifesto from November 2008. You can find the link here: http://www.theravada.org.za/environment.asp

[Nigel]

Hi All,

I am back in Bonn for the newest round of UN climate change talks. Obama has sent a high level delegation so there is a lot of excitement that the terrible deadlock in the negotiations may lift. I have also proposed to the International Network of Engaged Buddhists that we discuss climate justice and dhamma at their global conference in Chiang Mai in November 2009.

Yours with metta Nigel

[Ryan Vong]

Nigel,

Good luck on progressing this forward. Do keep us updated.

[Susmita Barua]

I like to share this Global climate change resource I just visited here.

Peace

[Nigel]

Thank you Susmita,

I was reflecting on how difficult the UNFCCC negotiations have become - how disconnected they are from the real threats and possibilities for action. Perhaps I am being too negative, but it seems that the national governments at the UN are able to find common ground or the will to bring about real change in terms of Green House Gas emissions. Through meditation and reflection I came to the conclusion that maybe it is not reasonable to expect the United Nations to solve this challenge. Human greed is arises from within us, hence it makes sense that the reaction and change of behaviour must also come from the ground upwards. You can see people all over the world waking up to the threat of climate change and actually doing things: water management, reforestation, restoring mangrove swamps, protecting wildlife, using renewable energy, recycling, walking rather than using fuel burning transport... it is happening.

Thank you for sharing this article. If there are more links, ideas or sharing, it is helpful for me to hear what you are thinking on this subject. Remember there will be an INEB workshop in November on dhamma and climate change.

Yours with metta

Nigel

[Nigel]

Dear LOBSA and fellow Buddhists,

It is praise worthy to share information on climate change and the threats to life on Earth. It is also praise worthy to protect animal life and avoid harming, killing or causing suffering to sentient beings.

I note that in this article by Rabbi Cousens there are some major misrepresentations of fact (or at least the research that is available to us at this time). It is a misrepresentation to say that agriculture is the primary cause of global warming. The primary cause of global warming, as repeatedly stated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is the burning of fossil fuels. From what I can find online, about 18% of Green House Gas emissions are coming from Agriculture. (see http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G310 ).


Here is a link to a more detailed paper on Green House Gas emissions and agriculture. You will see that the figures are quite different from those quoted above: http://agecon2.tamu.edu/people/faculty/mccarl-bruce/papers/728.pdf

82% of anthropogenic Green House Gases emissions in the United States come from Carbon Dioxide from burning fossil fuel (energy, transport and industry sectors). http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm

Traditional animal husbandry / pastoralism did not have any effect on the carbon dioxide equilibrium in the world. It is important to remember that millions of people rely on their cattle, sheep and camels to survive. Nomadic pastoralists are very vulnerable politically, and yet their mobile lifestyle is highly adaptative to climate and rain insecurity. It is important to recognise their rights and livelihoods.

The main issue in climate change is our energy sources, particularly burning coal to make electricity. Deforestation is likely the next major cause of global warming, with agriculture coming in third place. Destruction of the equatorial rainforests poses a much more immediate and serious threat to life on earth than the industrial cattle industry. If people feel they should be vegans and reduce the demand for industrialised meat production, then this is noble and praise worthy. However, it is also important not to encourage misinformation.

The Buddha warns us to be mindful, not to be deluded, not to be ignorant. We need to understand the human causes of global warming and climate change, driven by our greed and unsustainable habits. We have the capacity to turn this around by understanding it and changing our behaviour, including our energy sources, what we eat, how we travel around, and what we do to protect precious natural resources.

May all beings be free from suffering.

Nigel