Loss and Damage COP26
Scenes from Nov. 8 at COP26, the U.N. climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland. (CCOP Photo)
Nov. 8 began the second week of negotiations at COP26. Our Week Two Team began their access to the ‘Blue Zone’ where official proceedings take place.
Today’s theme according to the COP president’s program is: Adaptation, Loss & Damage. Adaptation means how communities will adapt to the changing climate and shore up resilience. Loss and Damage refers broadly to what we do (and more pointedly, who owes what to whom) given that climate change is affecting communities now, and more severe climate impacts are coming.
Loss and Damage is to address the suffering that is already happening to our global neighbors in the communities most impacted by the climate crisis. More wealthy nations who are responsible for more emissions ought to help provide resources and reparations to the nations that have both suffered the most from the climate crisis and contributed the least to the problem. Loss & Damage is an important area of climate justice, and an area of particular interest for a lot of our CCOP cohort members. As Christians, Loss & Damage is especially important to us because it provides an element of justice to climate action. Because we know that our God is a God of justice and healing, Loss and Damages correlates to God’s character.
Being in the blue zone is a bit of an overwhelming maze, and we have not been able to see or hear much about Loss and Damage today. However, one of our leaders attended a panel discussion to address the intersectionality of climate change regarding Loss & Damage. One speaker on the panel, a man who holds a position in the Pakistan government, talked about the reality of many people in Pakistan and abroad forced to leave their home lands due to the effects of climate change and lack of resources. In Pakistan, the sea is literally sweeping away one particular community and displacing families. This shows why it is important that Loss & Damage extends past just the physical loss of life and shelter but also the loss of identity and sense of home. Individuals are being forced to migrate to new, unfamiliar areas -- losing a sense of cultural identity and even native language for some.
The sentiment of this particular panel on Loss & Damage is similar to what our Week 1 CCOP colleagues and activists on the streets have said about COP26 being the "most exclusive COP" ever: there may be an acknowledgement that topics like inclusivity and Loss & Damage are important, but there has been little action to actually address those issues.
We see this source of frustration continuing into week 2 and intensifying. For many commentators, observers, and activists, apathy about the COP process is growing.
Even so, it’s Monday, and we and our CCOP colleagues have a lot ahead to bear witness to in the rest of the week ahead.
Prayer Requests
Pray that the second week can make a turn; there are breakthroughs that come with the new week and final week of COP26.
Pray that God may turn the heart of those in power to not only hear those who are affected but also act on that hearing.
Pray against cynicism but for righteous anger to remain lit.
Pray that people can find a sense of hope from faith communities that are doing the work in their local communities.
This article is republished from Christian Climate Observers Program Daily Update.