A Mapleton resident has been invited to attend the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference in Paris, France from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11.
Willard Metzger of Drayton, a former local pastor who has served at Bethel, Floradale, and Community (Drayton) Mennonite Churches, is attending on behalf of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC).
In her letter of invitation, CCC president Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton acknowledged the “valuable voice of the Mennonite family in our ecumenical work,” as well as Metzger’s “unique ability to bridge relationships across the various Christian expressions” in the CCC.
For Metzger, who serves as Mennonite Church Canada executive director and a CCC vice-president, concern for climate justice is a natural extension of the Christian faith.
“When people are left hungry, thirsty and homeless, there is no justice and there is no peace,” said Metzger. “When we care for creation, we take fundamental steps toward peace.”
Climate change is already impacting people in various parts of the world. After attending the 2011 UN Climate Change Forum in Durban, South Africa, Metzger offered some alarming statistics. Island states like Fiji are losing homes and livelihoods as sea levels rise. Somalia holds climate change responsible for the deaths of 20,000 children and the malnutrition of 730,000 others in 2011. Thailand lost two-thirds of its 2011 rice harvest to flooding. In Kenya, rising temperatures, soil erosion and drought has reduced the yield of the food staple maize to five bushels per hectare – just 20 per cent of what it was 50 years ago.
More recent reports suggest years of drought and inefficient government responses are behind the war in Syria that is driving so many refugees out of the country. Climate change is widely expected to continue increasing poverty levels by impacting food and water resources and livelihoods, eventually making some parts of the Earth uninhabitable.
Metzger’s pursuit of climate justice has garnered him meetings with a variety of high level politicians over the years, from former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair, to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his years as a Liberal MP.
In 2011, Metzger shared his thoughts on climate change with a group of Canadian Senators and members of Parliament in Ottawa prior to attending the 2011 UN Climate Change Forum as an observer for the World Council of Churches (WCC).
Among more recent engagements, he participated in a Justice Tour across Canada, a public engagement forum coordinated by the CCC and Citizens for Public Justice helping people connect the impacts of climate change with poverty.
