With the honor of writing our final CCOP newsletter, we wanted to showcase some of the ways that observing at COP26 has taught us, changed us, and prepared us with messages to take home to our communities. Rather than try (and fail) to summarize everyone’s experience, we’re showcasing three individual reflections each based on a meaningful photo from the week, which will hopefully give you a window into what the broader group has encountered.
COP26 Country Names
Tables of name cards show the diversity of countries and groups attending the COP26 UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland. (CCOP Photo)
Whew. What a week. One of the dominant impressions is the incredible kaleidoscope of people, all here to (purportedly) contribute toward a common goal. Politicians, protesters, innovators, conservationists, scientists, policy experts, and citizens. The list goes on. But one person that will stick in my memory is the chair of the negotiating committee I witnessed, tucked away in a back room. The task of drafting official agreements by consensus (!!) is fraught with challenges, especially when dealing with matters of finance for climate change mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage. As facilitator, the chair is charged with enabling every party to speak. Moreover, the co-chairs must listen so thoroughly that they can re-draft the text (often in a matter of hours) to circulate for the next round of negotiations. What a task, particularly with such competing perspectives. And, within the enormous spectacle of the COP in Glasgow, what a humble role. And yet, I was inspired by their patient, dedicated, gracious service. Perhaps we, too, can learn to give space and truly listen to the voice of Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.
-Rick Faw
COP26 Indigenous People
A jumbo screen at COP26 shows representatives of indigenous peoples demonstration at the conference. (CCOP Photo)
Throughout COP26, I’ve often found myself and others frustrated that powerful interests have come in the way of government parties making the strongest commitments to climate justice. Yet, the decision-makers haven’t kept the people from their power, as was illustrated today in the People’s Plenary session. Over the past two weeks, both inside and outside of the official blue zone, the people have gathered; they have shared anger, and also joy. At the Climate Fringe Cafe, housed in Adelaide Place Baptist Church, a sign struck me as particularly apt for the moment. It read: “We shall celebrate with such furious dancing the death of the carbon economy.” As people of faith, we will dance and sing for the death of our communal sin: our greedy and extractive ideologies. As Christians, we can hold onto a resilient hope for a better future, founded on love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In the People’s Plenary, the Indigenous People’s Constituency ended their compelling rebuke and call to action with a song. It brought tears to my eyes in this beautiful expression of anger and joy, which were actually much more similar than I had thought.
-Elsa Barron
Access and demonstrations
Long lines for access to COP26 venues and a major demonstration by citizen groups marked the experiences in Glasgow, Scotland. (CCOP Photo)
“What do we want? Climate Justice! When do we want it? Now!”
This week I have felt so tangibly the desperation in the audible voices for action. Now. Not tomorrow, now. These cries are from both inside and outside the Blue Zone, today shown by a demonstration at midday where we walked through the Blue Zone to meet those protesting at the gates in solidarity. We walked and chanted, all taking hold of a long red cloth rope representing the “red lines” that we don’t want to see crossed in the negotiations.
There have been promises unfulfilled before, so how can we trust that the future holds anything different? Yesterday I witnessed the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, plead for NDCs to be revised so we have a hope of reaching the 1.5-degree target, for commitments to be concrete and for actions to be verified. The people know what needs to be done. The UN knows what needs to be done. It’s time for every country, particularly the top polluters, to knuckle-down and make some serious changes.
-Alice Corrie
Prayer Requests
Pray that the goal of limiting average global temperature rise to 1.5 C may still be achievable. So many lives (human and non-human) depend on it.
Pray for continued energy for negotiators as they continue solidifying consequential language into the wee hours of the night during this last weekend of COP26.
Pray that, whatever happens in the official deliberations, we will all improve our ability to face the consequences of our choices. We hope for more reasons to celebrate, but we also must be prepared to speak the truth and lament what we have lost.