Solving the climate crisis requires large-scale investments, but the global markets are sluggish in responding to this task. Even though using known fossil fuel reserves and existing energy infrastructure will lead the world further into the climate crisis, globally more investment was directed to fossil fuels than renewables in 20203. Although investments in carbon neutral development have been accelerating, only a fraction of that investment is destined to the least developed countries where the impacts of climate change are felt the most4.  

The geography of this landscape is unjust. Much of the infrastructure that consumes the remaining carbon budget to stay below 2 degrees Celsius warming is located in rich countries. Moreover, much of the investment for climate-smart solutions takes place in rich and quickly-industrializing countries and very little market-driven funding is destined for the least developed countries.  

Finance a path to climate justice 

For these reasons, the financial commitment made by rich countries in the Paris Agreement to mobilize USD 100 billion to mitigation and adaptation efforts is more important than just its size. The finance commitment is a means to enact climate justice in practice; to guarantee the rights of the poor countries to develop and protect their citizens in the face of global change.   

At Glasgow’s COP26 a path should be created to agree on an increased funding target after 2025.  The meeting is also an excellent moment to reflect on whether the USD 100 billion commitment has served its purpose of sharing the burdens of solving the climate crisis in a just way. For this reason, Act Alliance commissioned a report called Post 2025 Climate Finance Architecture — through a climate justice lens. The report identifies failures in fulfilling the funding commitment and it provides many concrete recommendations on how the financial architecture could be improved.  

Commitment not funded 

The USD 100 billion commitment has not been funded, and the ways of channeling those funds are problematic. The bulk of the funding commitment is channeled as loans for mitigation projects to middle income countries.  Act Alliance argues that climate finances should adhere to the “leave no one behind” principle of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. As well, countries should set ambitious targets for increased grant-based funding for least developed countries and those most vulnerable to climate change, such as small island states. Donor countries should follow the principle of having the polluter pay and identify ways to fund loss and damage caused by climate change.   

In the UNFCCC framework, the climate finance commitment should be ‘new and additional’ to official development aid.  Unfortunately for the recipients of climate finances, donor countries mix these financial flows as there is no binding criteria for new and additional funds. An emphasis on climate needs might direct funding away from other development priorities such as education or healthcare. This ambiguity is why Act Alliance recommends developing solid definitions on what kinds of funds and projects are considered eligible for reaching jointly agreed goals.  

Serious consequences 

Failing to deliver the promised financial commitment might result in serious consequences. For poor countries and their vulnerable communities, the agreed-upon support for climate action is not considered as help or aid It should be seen instead as compensation for the historic responsibility of rich countries due to their bloated share of historic emissions. The broken system of climate finances needs to be rebooted. Our future depends on finding fair financial solutions to our common threat.  

The world cannot afford to ignore the calls for climate justice. The climate finance system is broken and needs to be fixed. Luckily, as outlined in ACT Alliance’s report, there are concrete suggestions to do just that.   

Niko Humalisto is a docent of social geography and leading advocacy specialist at Felm in Finland. He co-chairs the climate advocacy group of Act Alliance. The trail of his thoughts on circular economy and climate policy can be found on Research Gate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Niko-Humalisto-2). 

EMBARGOED until 7:30pm 2/1/11

Press release: Faith in Action for Climate Justice – event 2/11/21

People of faith gather in Glasgow to demand world leaders deliver climate justice at COP26.

On 2nd November, representatives of faith movements from around the world gathered to present their demands for climate justice at the start of COP26.

The event was held at 19:30 GMT at St George’s Tron Church, Buchanan Street, G1 2JX and streamed online.

More than 150,000 actions, including petition signatures and prayer boats, were gathered together alongside statements from religious leaders and youth. This event brought together multi-faith representatives to make collective demands of political leaders at COP26.

These demands include calling on governments to: 

• Put in place legislation and policies that will limit warming to 1.5C and achieve global net zero emissions;
• Deliver on existing climate finance commitments without delay and provide new and additional finance for people already experiencing the worst impacts of climate change;
• Shifting investment from fossil fuels to sustainable renewable energy;
• Reaffirm and respect obligations to protect and respect human rights, including in particular the rights of Indigenous peoples, women and local communities in climate action;
• Recognize human-induced climate change and biodiversity as part of one and the same crisis and implement solutions to climate change based on locally-led ecosystem preservation and restoration and protection of biodiversity;
• Listen to those on the front line of the crisis and make sure their voices are at the heart of climate talks and decision making.

Quotes

Young Christian Climate Network:

‘The climate crisis is both a symptom and a cause of global injustice, with the world’s poorest paying the heaviest price for the actions of the richest. YCCN is calling on the UK government to put people before bank balances and use its role as hosts of COP26 to push for urgent action on climate finance.’ – Jen Morris, YCCN

Christian Aid

“As Glasgow welcomes COP26, the decisions by world leaders will define the shape and sustainability of the dear green place we all share. We in the faith community stand together against the climate crisis, demanding ambitious action and praying for lasting change.” Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Nations and Church Relations, Christian Aid

ACT Alliance

“In 2021 the world is faced with two global emergencies – COVID-19 and the climate crisis. Both must be addressed urgently and with justice.” Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary, ACT Alliance.

The Lutheran World Federation

“We need bold action to ensure climate justice. As people of faith, we call on all governments to take decisive steps at COP26 to avert further climate catastrophes and human suffering.” Rev. Anne Burghardt, General Secretary of The Lutheran World Federation

Living Laudato Si’ Philippines

“Eight years after the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, more than a thousand people are still missing. Year after year thenceforth, the intensity of extreme weather conditions is increasing. COP26 is an opportunity to address losses and damages, both for humanity and ecosystems. Climate action is not only about common but differentiated responsibilities but a collective conscience and uncompromised moral imperative towards intergenerational justice, equity and common good.” – Rodne R. Galicha, Executive Director, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines

Laudato Si Movement

“COP26 is a ‘benchmark session to heed to the urgent, radical and conscious action in response to the ecological crisis we are living in. It is without doubt that the need for bold actions from global leadership is paramount if we are to meet the 1.5 degree as per the Paris Agreement.” – Lorna Gold, Board Member, Laudato Si Movement

Renew Our World

“People in 6 continents have signed the Renew Our World Reset21 petition – we are united by our faith, our love of justice and our care for creation. My people, the Guna of Panama, are being hit now by the rising seas and changing climate, and we call on the world’s leaders to find the money they promised, cut the emissions they promised, and do what we do and take care of the world God made.”  – Jocabed Solano, Founder, Indigenous Memory

Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

“Faith groups from around the world have joined together in Glasgow to ask for immediate action to address the climate. We’re proud to add the voices of over 4,000 SCIAF supporters to this call.  The poorest communities in the world have been hit hardest by the climate emergency. We’re calling for communities to be given financial support to adapt and recover from climate change, for those on the frontline of the climate emergency to be listened to, and for urgent action from world leaders to keep us within 1.5 degrees of global warming.” – Dr Geraldine Hill, Advocacy Manager, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund

CAFOD

“Tens of thousands of Catholics have raised their voices alongside people from across faith communities to demand action at the COP. We hope and pray that the leaders in Glasgow listen to their calls, take the steps we need to keep temperature rises below the catastrophic 1.5C level and make sure the people hardest hit by the crisis are put at the heart of the talks.” Liam Finn, Campaigns Manager at Catholic aid agency CAFOD

Islamic Relief

“Islamic Relief is seeing the devastating impact that climate change is having on some of the poorest communities around the world. Floods, droughts and cyclones are destroying people’s lives. With 80 per cent of the world adhering to a faith, it is critical that faith communities come together and take a stand against climate change. As part of this, we are calling on the UK government to set up a specialised green fund for houses of worship of all faiths to support their transition to net zero emission by 2050.” Maria Zafar, Campaigns & Public Affairs Coordinator for Islamic Relief UK

GreenFaith

“As women of faith born in the global south, we’ve seen multinational corporations take advantage of our natural resources, bribe our governments, steal land from indigenous and small farmers.  We know first-hand the human rights violations that accompany coal, oil, gas, and agribusiness expansion. We watch wealthy countries refusing to make good on the climate funding they promise. We see our own governments failing to enforce laws that should protect their own people. In the face of such hardship, faith sustains our communities. We will not stop until we see a world governed by compassion, love and justice.”

Rev. Neddy Astudillo, Nana Firman, Meryne Warah – GreenFaith

Anglican Communion Environmental Network

“Let justice roll down like rivers”  At COP26 we call on the global community to prioritise the call for Climate justice. We call for a just transition from fossil fuels which not only  contribute to climate change but also to environmental degradation, pollution of scarce water supplies and the abuse of the rights of rural and indigenous people. At COP26 the window of  opportunity is narrowing to avert a bleak and barren future for the generations to come.”

Rev Dr Rachel Mash, Anglican Communion Environmental Network

Social media:

• Event #: #FaithActionCOP26

Photos

Photos from the event will be available here shortly after: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lutheranworld/albums/72157720100856227 please credit LWF

For two days leaders from all over the world have shared their views on the current climate crisis, during the World Leaders Summit at COP26. Everyone who entered the stage acknowledged that there is a crisis and that it must be handled. However, leaders had different views on the way forward.

The Co-chair of the ACT Alliance climate change group, Mattias Söderberg, co-chair of the ACT Alliance Climate Justice Reference Group, said,“I am worried and frustrated. My expectations may have been too high, but the Leaders Summit did not deliver the energy or the inspiration we needed to make sure that COP26 can bring a successful result. There were so many strong words, and well formulated messages, but so few concrete commitments and promises.”

Developing countries made a joint and strong call for climate finance. Many commented on the urgent need for support, to address climate related disasters, and to enable the green transition, and many shared their disappointment about the fact that developed countries have not delivered on their promise to mobilise 100 bn USD annually from 2020.

The Co-chair of the ACT Alliance climate change group, Elena Cedillo, Co-chair of the ACT Climate Justice Reference Group, reflected,“It is clear that developed countries must listen to the call for more climate finance. Greater ambition is needed to make progress in the climate agenda and provide climate finances to support vulnerable countries. And we need climate action now.”

“I understand the concern developing countries have,” she continued: “With the lack of mitigation action, the risk for climate induced loss and damage increases. At the same time there is still no agreement about loss and damage finance.”

It was clear that developed countries are aware of the demands from developing countries. A number of leaders presented their plans to scale up climate finance, and to increase the focus on adaptation.

Söderberg said,“We welcome all the climate finance pledges. Every dollar will make a difference, and is valued. We should remember that poor and vulnerable communities are in an urgent need for support.”

“However,” he noted, “When we consider the pledges, we must be aware that the nature of the pledge will differ. The US pledge will for example depend on a decision in the congress, and many pledges may be materialised as loans, which will have to be repaid.”

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the leaders were men, and neither gender equality, nor women and girls’ rights, were themes which leaders addressed.

Patriciah Roy Akullo, Co-chair of the ACT Climate Justice Reference Group, stated;“There is no climate justice without gender justice. I hope the fact that most leaders were men, won’t mean that gender specific issues will be lost on the COP26 agenda. ACT Alliance, will continue to push for transformative climate solutions that promote gender equality.”

“The fact that there were so few women speaking today reflects that gender equality is still a distant reality. We must ensure an intersectional gender lens is present in every single climate policy and every action linked to the Paris Agreement, at global, regional, national and local level, ” she concluded.

The UN climate conference COP26 began this weekend in Glasgow, Scotland.  This COP is being held in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the need for urgent action to address climate change is getting increasingly desperate.  All around the world, people, communities, churches, and civil society are raising their voices calling for ambition, for action, for an end to weak commitments.

At previous COPs, many of those voices would be heard in the halls of the COP itself, with a vigorous mix of attendees from around the world.  But this year access has been severely limited.

COVID-19 restrictions, equitable access to vaccines, and changing requirements left many from the Global South sitting at home, unable to even reach Scotland for the conference.  The cost has left others behind as well.

The Guardian posted a story on the weekend saying that this COP would be the whitest and most privileged ever.

And this is bad news for climate justice. 

Because we need to have everyone in the room to be part of the conversation if we want to make meaningful changes that will protect and support the most vulnerable.

Women.  Youth.  Indigenous people.  People from vulnerable communities.  They all need to be in the room, at the table, and part of the conversation.

And yet social media is full of questions about how to follow events online, about how to get tickets to rooms for those who are in Glasgow.  The hashtag #MissingVoicesCOP26 is capturing the situation.

And, if we are truly committed to transformative and inclusive climate action, that must change.  COP26 cannot be a success without ambition, and that ambition will not be strong without the voices of all these individuals and groups represented in the debates. 

But these voices are absent in 2021.

For example, Bidyanqth Bhurtel, an ACT Alliance delegate who unfortunately was not able to make his way to Glasgow from Nepal states that: “For a person who looked to travel to the UK for the first time from a country like ours in itself is quite a hassle even in normal times. I regularly checked the procedures, contacted the visa service providers here and got to conclusion that I am simply not confident to travel to Scotland, mainly because Nepal was on the red list.  There was no time or energy for me to prepare for all the details in order to meet all requirements.”

James Bhagwan, from the Pacific Conference of Churches, contrasts the situation at COP26 with the Pacific practice of talanoa, which COPs have adopted as a dialogue method since 2017. “In our Pacific context, when we gather for important decisions, we sit together on the mat, to talanoa, to discuss from the heart, for everyone to speak. The meeting does not begin until the last person who needs to be there arrives and is seated on the mat. This year there are many empty spaces on our mat. The meeting begins without them. You cannot have real talanoa if everyone, governments and civil society etc are not all sitting on the mat, together. We who are here from the Pacific bring the voices of those who could not come. More than ever We must be given the space, the microphone and the time to speak our truths, to share our stories. And we must be heard. The decisions made at COP26 must take into account what we are telling the world. ”

Jamilet Azucena Ñontol Infante, from SEPEC, Lutheran Church, Peru, was fortunate to be able to come to COP, and describes her experience, “It was hard for me to come to COP26.  I live in Peru with my family, and I do a lot to help them.  I did not have a passport, I had never been on a plane.  My family was so proud of me for getting to do these things!  But because I am a young person, I was not eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine until just before COP and I could only get one dose so far.  So I had to quarantine for 10 days when I got to the UK.  This means that I am away from my family for a long time.  I am lucky that they can spare me from the work at home for many weeks to come to COP- most other families are not so lucky.”

We call on the UNFCCC Secretariat and UK COP26 Presidency to put an end to the ticketing system in the COP venue and to put in place inclusive, participatory and transparent methods of participation online for those who were left at home.

There is time to make this COP a success, to be a big step towards strong climate justice, but it must happen now, as the debates begin, and not wait until it is too late for these vital voices to be present in the room.

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.