A United Methodist Insight Column
All eyes this week and next are on COP26, the United Nation’s 26th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland now through Nov. 12. The international gathering brings together world government leaders to try to reduce or stop the global rise of temperatures that already is wreaking havoc on the planet.
In addition to government leaders, the event will be attended by representatives of business and industry, non-governmental and civic organizations, and people of all faiths, including United Methodists. Among the United Methodists we know are attending are the Rev. Mel Caraway of Texas Impact; Cara Fleischer of UMC Creation Justice Ministries and Shamiso Winnet Mupara of Zimbabwe with Christian Climate Observers; and John Hill and the Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe of the General Board of Church and Society.
We’ll be sharing their posts about COP26 as the opportunity arises.
Meanwhile, Climate Central notes on its website: “During COP21, nations of the world adopted the Paris Agreement to hold global average temperatures to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F). To keep these long-term and global goals on track, the Paris Agreement requires all Parties to propose their own plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions—and to increase their ambition every 5 years (COP26 was postponed from 2020 to 2021 because of the pandemic). COP26 will review these initial commitments, called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and will also see Parties update their NDCs, setting the tone for future action.”
Why does this international gathering matter to United Methodists? We’ve already experienced the deadly effects of climate-influenced catastrophic events this year, especially wildfires in the western United States and hurricanes in the South. United Methodists in northern Europe, especially Germany, suffered disastrous floods this year. Extreme weather events have twice hit the Louisiana Conference in 2021.
Even more than the denomination’s losses, United Methodists are being called to care for God’s creation. As United Methodist layman Bill McKibben has said previously, our burning of fossil fuels and indiscriminate use of natural resources has resulted in humanity “running Genesis in reverse.” This summer the International Panel on Climate Change issued a report saying we are at a critical juncture in staving off global warming. Unless we act now, climate worldwide will change to such an extent that the future of humanity itself, to say nothing of the natural world, will careen toward extinction.
To understand the framework of COP26, check out two articles from The Conversation that explain what’s at stake and the terms used in the discussion: "A quick guide to climate jargon ..." and "4 key issues to watch ..." Then pray for COP26 and share what you’ve learned with your own congregation.
Prayer requests from Glasgow
The first newsletter from Christian Climate Observers included these prayer requests:
- “Please pray that the leaders attending COP26 will make wise and compassionate decisions in response to the urgency of the situation.
- “Pray for the organizers, safety and logistics teams that they will overcome the difficulties of organizing an event on this scale.
- “Activist Elizabeth Wathuti, one of the speakers in the World Leaders’ Summit, told of hardships that she had experienced and seen in Kenya, such as seeing young children crying after finding that a stream that they had walked 12 miles to visit was dry. She asked the audience for a compassionate moment of silence to think of the billions of people who don’t have an opportunity to share their story. Please pray for all of those who are suffering while the world is oblivious.
- “Please pray for Christians caring for God’s creation in Uganda by planting trees to take carbon out of the air and conserve wildlife. Please pray for unity in campaigning for climate justice and ask that people will see the glory and kindness of God the creator through our unity.”
COVID deaths top 5 million
The figure staggers the mind: some 5 million people around the world have died from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. The ministry needs resulting from the ongoing pandemic are great: families who’ve lost loved ones are vulnerable to unstable mental health resulting from grief; churches’ ministries to the needy have been impaired; everyone’s health is at risk.
Don’t shrug off this number, monumental as it is. In addition to praying for the situation, contribute to the new initiative of the General Board of Global Ministries for a more equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccine around the world. Lack of vaccinations has impacted COP26 as well, as leaders from countries with limited vaccine supplies have been unable to make it to Glasgow because travel restrictions and costs. Donate directly via the Global Ministries website.
Media Mentions as of Nov. 1, 2021
Mutare's Hartzell School Embraces New Technology - NewZimbabwe.com
The World of Bill McKibben and Elizabeth Kolbert – The New Yorker Magazine*
Recommended Reading: Lovett Weems on Demographic Changes and the Mission of the Church – UM & Global
Tennessee Methodists are about to create a new conference. Here's why it matters. – The Tennessean
United Methodists combine climate divestment with sustainable investing - Baptist News Global
Methodists propose housing project | News | galtheraldonline.com
Stop, drop and COP: What you need to know about the big climate summit – Canary Media
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.