Leonardo Boff
Theologian
Earthcharter Commission

The Earth's environment has been more or less stable since the neolithic period, some ten thousand years ago, as has been scientifically demonstrated by analyzing the layers of ice in the permafrost. The great transformation occurred with the industrial process, especially after WWII and the surprising population growth. Thousands and thousands of millions of tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen peroxide and ozone), began to be launched annually to the atmosphere, to the point that the natural system can no longer absorb them. This is the fundamental cause of global warming, which is not a new, natural cycle of the Earth, but is caused by human practices.

The World Meteorological Organization, (OMM), has developed theoretical models that allow for reliable predictions. According to the OMM, between now and 2100, temperatures will rise between 1.8 and 6 degrees centigrade, most probably around 2-3 degrees. The sea level will rise from between 18 and 59 centimeters. And that assumes that we make large investments (around 460 thousand millions of dollars annually) from now on, in order to stabilize the Earth's temperature. Without this collective effort, around 20-30% of animal and vegetable species will disappear and the number of human victims could reach the millions. Drought, desertification, and increased salinity of the soil would deprive almost three billion people of drinking water, raising the number of those who are already starving by 600 million. There would be millions of «ecological refugees», who would not passively accept such a death sentence, and would invade regions more favorable to life.

These are not ill-omened prophecies but calls to everyone who nourishes generational solidarity and love for the Common House. There is a grave cultural obstacle: we are used to instant results, while here we are dealing with future ones, the fruits of actions taken now. As the Earthcharter affirms: «the bases of world security are threatened; these tendencies are dangerous, but not inevitable.» These dangers can only be avoided if we change the forms of production and the model of consumption. This civilizing transformation demands the political will of all countries of the world, and the cooperation, without exception, of the web of national and transnational enterprises, small, medium and large. If some world enterprises refuse to act in this way, they could annul the efforts of all the others. This is why the political will must be collective and forceful, with well defined priorities and very clear general lines, accepted by all, large and small. This is the way to planetary salvation.

The great risk that many see lies in the logic of the capitalist system as globally articulated. Its objective is to gain the greatest profit in the shortest time possible, with its power ever expanding, resisting all legislation that would limit its voracity. Capitalism seeks competition, not cooperation. Faced with paradigmatic changes, capitalism confronts a dilemma: either it denies itself, acting in solidarity with humanity's future and changing its logic, thus running the risk of bankruptcy, or it affirms itself in its search for profit, with no consideration of compassion and solidarity, traversing mountains of copses and a devastated earth. Many are afraid that, true to its nature as a voracious wolf, capitalism will chose suicide, preferring to die and to cause death than to "lose." Let's hope life overcomes this logic.

Leonardo Boff