Further positive news followed in the finalising of a special Adaptation Fund, which has the potential to deliver significant funds to grassroots programmes to help poor communities adapt.
"It represents some progress, however at least $50 billion a year is needed for adaptation in developing countries, which means we will need much more than just the Adaptation Fund," said Sarah La Trobe, Senior Policy Analyst at Tearfund.
"We are pleased that adaptation has leapt up the political agenda but money is not yet flowing in the quantity we need. And world leaders must acknowledge that with every delay in taking strong action to cut global emissions, poor people in developing countries have to survive more droughts, floods and more intense storms."
"Rich countries will have to explore every possible avenue for funding over the next few years if we are to have any chance of meeting our responsibilities to poor people."
Atkins now asks that the WEA members would pray and act regularly about climate change.
"Just as 200 years ago, many Christians spoke out about the horror and injustice of the slave trade or, more recently, the oppression of communism, this generation of Christians could play a key role in addressing the grave injustice of climate change, which hits the poorest hardest and will unfairly affect generations to come," said Atkins.
He urged Christians, in the light of the Bali agreement to start new negotiations, "to get informed and use all of their influence with friends, neighbours, work colleagues, church communities and government representatives to build the public and political support which will be necessary to ensure a just and effective outcome of negotiations in 2009".
Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of WEA, shared his feelings on the outcome of the conference upon his return from visit to South Korea.
"We are generally encouraged by the progress made at the Bali summit achieved on addressing both the causes and effects of climate change," he said. "However, for the sake of the poor and for the love of God's creation, governments must be encouraged to work very hard over the next two years to establish the new global framework."
The WEA is made up of 128 national evangelical alliances located in seven regions and 104 associate member organisations. The vision of WEA is to extend the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations and by Christ-centered transformation within society. WEA exists to foster Christian unity, to provide an identity, voice and platform for the 420 million evangelical Christians worldwide.
