As COP26 began on 31 October and runs through 12 November, faith-based leaders are raising their voices in unprecedented ways. A newly released 15-minute video co-produced by the World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation and ACT Alliance portrays a candid, passionate conversation about what churches and faith communities can and should be doing to ensure every voice is heard not only at COP26 but beyond.  

During the video, Rev. James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, reflects that many Pacific communities are on the frontline of climate change, and they have very hard decisions to make. “Do they move?” he said. “What does that mean when they have to uproot themselves?”  

Fernanda Zuñiga, a Lutheran World Federation delegate from Chile, underscores the importance of including the voices of people who have been underrepresented, such as women and young people. “It’s important that people of faith and their leaders raise our voices for them,” she says. 

They video portrays why it is vital that church leaders advocate for the importance of wealthy countries fulfilling their financial obligations to less developed countries for loss, damage and adaptation. 

Julius Mbatia, ACT Alliance’s Global Climate Justice programme manager, based in Nairobi, says we need a COP26 that sets momentum for a multilateral system that stands in solidarity with vulnerable and marginalized communities. 

“I think crucially, is always the question of speaking truth to power, being able to give voice to the voiceless, and women and girls have been essentially left behind a lot,” he said. “Young people have been left behind a lot.” 

Ultimately the conversation points out that all voices matter when it comes to the climate emergency, as the discussion also underscores the moral imperative of working for climate justice. 

“We need to basically lift the level and recognize that whether you’re a negotiator, a head of state, or a young person coming in from a community, your voice is equal and that’s very important in the process,” says Bhagwan.  

Watch the full video here

Listen to the podcast here

Mientras una sequía histórica afecta el caudal de uno de los ríos sudamericanos más importantes, en Escocia, se discutirán temascruciales para el futuro del planeta. La importancia de la participación y la presión de la sociedad civil en la COP26. 

Romario Dohmann camina desde la orilla hasta el lecho del segundo río más caudaloso de Sudamérica. “Nos encontramos casi prácticamente en el medio del lecho del río Paraná, a la altura de la localidad de Montecarlo. De fondo se ve la isla Caraguatay, una reserva provincial”. La escena impacta pero no es nueva. Quienes habitan en esta zona rodeada de ríos y arroyos, saben que hace meses el río se está retirando. 

“Esta falta de agua, esta sequía prolongada, pronunciada, por los efectos del cambio climático hace que cada uno de estos eventos sean más profundos y más graves”, observa el coordinador de programas ambientales de la Fundación Hora de Obrar.  

Este tipo de eventos climáticos extremos causan pérdidas y daños que afectan las especies de flora, fauna y a las personas. El impacto no solo es en lo económico, también afecta la salud y el estilo de vida de las comunidades. 

“Estas son muestras claras de que el cambio climático está sucediendo, está pasando, y que el momento para actuar es ahora.” Desde el programa “Crece Selva Misionera” la Fundación Hora de Obrar busca reforestar 180.000 árboles en la provincia de Misiones, para recuperar los bordes de arroyos y áreas degradadas producto de la deforestación, la extensión de la frontera agrícola. De esta manera se busca recuperar los niveles en la calidad y cantidad de agua.  

“Esos arroyos son vitales para el consumo humano, en la agricultura, en nuestra vida. Con la recuperación de los arroyos estamos haciendo una acción de mitigación, en la lucha frente al cambio climático”, destacó Romario, quien no solo promueve acciones a nivel local. Entre el 1 al 12 de noviembre participará de la COP26 para presionar a los gobiernos a tomar medidas urgentes. Pero ¿cuáles serán los ejes de las discusiones? 

La periodista especializada en medioambiente, Tais Gadea Lara, lo resumió en 4 puntos: 

• El artículo 6 del Acuerdo de París. Es un punto pendiente de reglamentación, que busca regular el mercado global de carbono. 
• El financiamiento de las políticas de mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático. Históricamente fueron los países desarrollados los que más contribuyeron al cambio climático y por eso se espera que sean los que ayuden a los países en desarrollo a desarrollar políticas de mitigación y adaptación. Deben movilizar 100.000 millones de dólares anuales desde 2020 y por cinco años a los países en desarrollo para ese propósito.  
• Daños y pérdidas irreparables. Se espera discutir cómo implementar la Red de Santiago para hacer frente a esta problemática, un tema crucial para los países más vulnerables al cambio climático y de mayor rechazo por los países desarrollados. 
• Transparencia. Aquí se debe definir el contenido de los reportes que todos los países tendrán que presentar periódicamente a partir de 2024 para ver cómo los países están cumpliendo (o no) con los compromisos asumidos. 

Practica la rectitud y la justicia, pues Dios prefiere eso a los sacrificios. (Proverbios 21:3) 

He puesto mi arco iris en las nubes, y servirá como señal de la alianza que hago con la tierra. (Génesis 9:13) 

La Fundación Protestante Hora de Obrar desarrolla y acompaña proyectos sociales y ambientales con el objetivo de promover y defender los derechos de las personas en situación de mayor vulnerabilidad en Argentina, Uruguay y Paraguay.

 ENGLISH VERSION

Climate change is not a future challenge. It is a current reality, and we are already facing some of the devastating effects that scientists link to global warming. The same scientists have made it clear that global temperature should not increase beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius. Governments around the world have made plans to reduce emissions, but when the plans are compiled, the global temperature will increase by 2.7 degrees. The situation is critical.  

Ministers and diplomats are now travelling to Glasgow, Scotland, to attend COP26, the UN climate summit. There are several important topics on the summit’s agenda, but the fact that the existing plans fail to reach the agreed 1.5 degree target will be in the headlines. What will governments and world leaders do? 

At ACT Alliance we are deeply concerned and worried. People on the frontlines of climate change are already suffering from cyclones, droughts, and heatwaves. There is no time to delay. Action is needed now to save houses, cattle, livelihoods, and human lives.  

Lack of finance 

One of the key challenges, which will be addressed at this summit, is the lack of finance. Developed countries have not delivered on their promise to mobilise 100 bn USD per year, beginning in 2020. The money, especially for adaptation, is missing and important action will be delayed.  

Without action the risk of people facing climate-induced loss and damage increases. When the cyclone wipes out a village, people will have to rebuild and resettle, or move on. In either case, they will need support. This support, so called “loss and damage finance” is not even on the agenda of COP26. Developing countries, joined by ACT Alliance, will make a strong call to address this growing need.  

A crucial opportunity 

COP26 is a crucial opportunity for world leaders to tackle the climate emergency. However, it will be a difficult negotiation as governments have different interests. The people who are most affected by climate change will stand by and wait on the side lines. Will this be the time where leaders agree to act? Or will it be yet another disappointing UN summit?  

At ACT Alliance we will do our best to push for an ambitious outcome. Wish us luck! 

Mattias Soderberg is the co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice working group. 

“2020 will go down in history for the global pandemic, but also as proof of human kindness and determination,” says Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary, in his foreword to the ACT Alliance 2020 Annual Report.  

“COVID-19 highlighted existing vulnerabilities and affected hard-won socio-economic progress.” Rudelmar says. “Yet we also saw governments and organisations collaborate to contain COVID-19 and work towards reopening the world in a more just and inclusive way.” 

ACT Alliance and its members quickly adapted to the reality of COVID-19, calling for vaccine equity and working closely with civil society, the UN and other partners. Members shared strategies in virtual meetings on how to reduce COVID-19’s impact on their work. These activities, and many others, are more fully described in the Annual Report.

“2020, for me, was also a year of hope,” says Rudelmar. “People selflessly extended their support to friends and strangers alike.”

In 2020 ACT also celebrated its 10th anniversary. Since 2010, our members have made ACT the largest Protestant and Orthodox network of churches and agencies engaged in humanitarian, development and advocacy work.

Read more in the Annual Report, available for download here.

          ENGLISH                                    SPANISH                              FRENCH

Three recent climate reports point to the major climate challenges facing the world. The future looks dark, but there is still hope and opportunities for action. I would like to share my recommendations on what needs to be done, but first a look at the three reports. 

In early August, the UN Climate Panel released the latest research on global warming. It has already been well covered in the media. It points out that climate change will have very serious consequences in the coming decades, and that countries must drastically increase their ambition to reduce it. 

On Friday, September 17, two new reports were released showing how the countries of the world are trying to deal with these challenges. One report came from the UN Climate Secretariat, UNFCCC. They have looked at the climate plans that the countries of the world have drawn up and it does not look good. If all the plans come to fruition, global temperatures will rise by 2.7 degrees. Both the Paris Agreement and the researchers point out that the temperature should not rise by more than 1.5 degrees. 

But 2.7 degrees is only possible if developing countries receive the climate support that the rich countries have promised. Unfortunately, the third report, from the OECD, shows that the rich countries are not living up to that part of the agreement. This means that developing countries will find it difficult to implement their climate plans, and then the temperature will rise even more. 

In short, it looks really, really bad. 

But there is still hope, and it is the first report, by climate scientists, that shows the way. It points out that it is still possible to reach the 1.5 degree goal and to deal with the climate crisis.

Here are my four recommendations for what to do:

• All countries, and especially rich countries, must once again look at their climate plans and see where it is possible to increase ambition. Every instrument must be in play and must work quickly. 
• Climate support for developing countries must be increased. This means more money to ensure that developing countries can prioritize both mitigation and adaptation work.  
• We must focus more on climate adaptation. Climate scientists have emphasized that even with the most positive climate scenarios, the challenges will be great, not least for poor and vulnerable countries. Without climate adaptation, we risk seeing hunger, conflict and migration increase. 
• Even though politicians have a special responsibility, they cannot solve the climate crisis alone. Everyone has to make a contribution. Companies, organizations, individual families and each person can make a difference. We must all therefore consider what we can do for the climate. 

The three reports are scary reading, but there is still hope. I hope all governments in the coming months take the climate more seriously, and act. When we move to the upcoming UN climate summit, COP26, we need world leaders to step up and show leadership.  

Mattias Söderberg is Senior advocacy advisor for DanChurchAid  and is co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group.