COP 26 is now taking place. Stakeholders are attending the event with the conviction that we can no longer accept perennial denial of the real impact of climate change on the planet and humanity. It is time now to take bold and proactive actions to reverse the collective societal moral and political failure to address climate change in all its dimensions.  

As the head of the ACT Alliance, one of the co-chairs of the UN Multifaith Advisory Council and a permanent observer member of the COVAX Facility governance structure, I want to highlight my perspective through different prisms.  

Holistic response needed 

Climate change represents the most complex challenge of our time – it requires a concerted, proactive and holistic response. It is happening as we face a global epidemiological crisis, which is exacerbated by structural inequalities and discriminations in our societies.  

Even when there is plenty of evidence of the impact of climate change on people, as well as the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, we still see people and governments denying both. We see religious leaders appealing to governments to commit to ambitious targets at the upcoming UN climate conference. For them, care for the environment is a moral imperative to preserve the planet for future generations and to support communities that are most vulnerable to climate change. On the other hand, we also see some religious leaders at the forefront of denial of vaccination against COVID-19.  

COVID-19 lessons relevant to the climate crisis 

I believe that is worthwhile to mention research in the Lancet (https://www.thelancet.com/), where experts in vaccine hesitancy provided three key lessons in risk communication to successfully maintain public support. These can also be applied to policies designed to cut carbon emissions quickly and substantially.  

• The first key lesson is that the public must not be forgotten during the rapid transition to net-zero carbon emissions. Just as every vaccine that remains in the vial is 0 per cent effective, every green technological breakthrough is similarly useless in getting to net-zero if it remains unutilized.  
• The second key lesson is to identify and support trusted messengers. Whether it is a call to vaccinate against COVID-19 or a call to reduce meat consumption, if it is to be heard and acted upon, the source of such a message first needs to be trusted.  
• The third lesson is that if your message is not being heard, then humanize the data. 

Impacts of both crises 

The differentiated and intersectional impacts of both crises become more glaring when we zoom into specific issues such as gender equality, migration and displacement, and peace and human security. We must link the epidemiological crisis to the equally urgent climate crisis. The climate crisis presses climate-vulnerable countries to the edge as they face major climate-induced disasters and other hazards in addition to their ongoing COVID-19 response, prevention and recovery efforts.  

There is a growing body of evidence showing that women, in all their diversity, are generally more vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change than their male counterparts. Efforts to tackle gender inequality can play a key role in how countries adapt to the growing risks posed by climate change. 

Many humanitarian catastrophes around the world are increasingly related to climate change, and it is a key driver of poverty and an inhibitor for sustainable development. It causes loss of lives and income, and damage to property, which in turn causes population displacement and conflicts.  Our work should be connected more closely with disaster risk reduction, strengthening community resilience, livelihoods and climate change adaptation as well as compensation for loss and damage and climate-induced migration. 

We have a very narrow window of opportunity to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Climate action is not something that can be delayed for 5, 10 or 20 years. We must take urgent and ambitious action now. 

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria (Brazil) is the General Secretary of the ACT Alliance.  Mr Bueno de Faria has over 25 years of experience working with national and international religious and church-related organizations on humanitarian, development and advocacy programmes. From 2014 to 2017 he served as the World Council of Churches Representative to the United Nations. Rudelmar is the co-chair and member of the United Nations Multi-Faith Advisory Council, member of the UN Steering Committee for the Implementation of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence, member of the UN High-Level Commission of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 Follow-up, and a member of the AMC Engagement Group of the COVAX Facility. 

Media Release 

Monday, November 8

Loss and Damage will be an important part of the COP27 agenda.  

Do you need strong visuals and knowledgeable quotes/points you can use in your stories on Loss and Damage? 

Join ACT Alliance, Christian Aid and members of other faith-based organisations for a skit with visuals that will show loss and damage from the perspective of communities in the Global South in a simple and direct way.  

The action will illustrate the difficulties that Global South countries have being heard by wealthier nations about their need for funding on Loss and Damage. It will further show the issues that many developing nations have with: 

•  the current climate finance situation,  
• the need for transparent and accountable financing, and 
• an increased share of existing climate finance for adaptation work. 

When: Monday, November 8, 1:35pm. 

Where: Zone D, between pavilion 4C and 4D 

Interviews can be made available with 

• Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary, ACT Alliance 
• Julius Mbatia, Kenya. Climate Justice Manager, ACT Alliance.  

• Patriciah Roy Akulloh, Uganda. ACT Alliance Climate Justice Group Co-chair 

MEDIA CONTACT: Simon Chambers, ACT Alliance, +44 7423 277 440  

While there continue to be disagreements about how to address climate induced loss and damage in the negotiations at the UN Climate summit, COP26, people in many developing countries struggle daily with climate related disasters. When the climate becomes a threat: Evidence of climate change induced Loss and Damage in Nepal,  a new report by DanChurchAid, a Danish member of the ACT Alliance, launched Monday, assesses the situation in three municipalities in Nepal. 

All three have experienced either flooding or landslides, two natural hazards which are linked to climate change. Nepal is vulnerable, and affected both by melting glaciers, and increased temperatures and rain. In such a mountainous country this has dramatic effects.

The report shows how people were forced to leave their houses, and how the water and the landslides destroyed their property and fields, and killed their cattle. None of the three municipalities received international support, but local authorities and civil society organisations provided some immediate support. However, this support was far from enough and 82% of the households had to take out loans to recover and reestablish their homes. 9% chose to permanently leave their homes, and can thus be called climate-induced displaced people.

Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, Moderator of the ACT Alliance, says, “The situation is tragic. These people have not been contributing much to global warming, but at the same time climate change has a huge impact on their lives and livelihoods. This is not fair! Climate induced loss and damage must be addressed globally, and big polluters must mobilise the support needed.”

The climate action advisor  at the DanChurchAid office in Nepal, Rajan Thapa, said,“The assessment shows that people have been forced from their homes, and that some people choose never to return. This is sad, but also understandable, as climate change continues to pose a threat to these communities. Without adaptation to reduce the risk for flooding and landslides, it is likely that these municipalities will continue to face similar disasters, leading to more climate induced loss and damage.”

“It is not fair that these poor families should have to take loans to recover,” Thapa continued. “This will put a debt burden on their shoulders, as they will have to repay the loan with interest. There is a real need for loss and damage finance, from developed countries, to support people who face climate change on the ground.”  

The report highlights a variety of findings based on the research in the three municipalities.  Highlights include: 

• Both economic and non-economic loss and damage is very evident in Nepal and is a common concern, as well as an issue of climate justice.

• Although the study covered a limited number of households, the total economic loss for those interviewed in the three municipalities was very high at around USD 388,355, with an average loss per household of approximately USD 4,176.

• Displacement is a huge problem. The majority of people return, but 9% have permanently relocated.

• A majority of the affected people, 82%, were forced to take loans, to resettle after the disasters.

• None of the villages received international support, and they had to rely on the local government and local organisations. However, the support they received was not enough- an average USD 1000-13500 per household is not covered by the received support.

• As the insurance coverage in the affected communities is very weak and no international support was received, the response came from local actors. This shows why locally led initiatives are so important.

“Climate induced loss and damage continue to be a difficult topic in the UN negotiations, where developed countries are reluctant to address the need for scaled up support. As ACT Alliance, we continue to call for loss and damage finance, and support to vulnerable communities facing the harsh effects of climate change,” concluded Qvist-Sørensen.

For interviews, please contact 

Mattias Soderberg, Climate Advisor, DanChurchAid:
Phone +45 29 70 06 09
Email msd@dca.dk 

Loss and damage due to climate change is a reality, and it is also one of the most important items on the agenda of COP26, the UN Climate summit. In this blog, I would like to share the reality of climate-induced extreme events and loss and damage in Nepal’s vulnerable communities. I hope negotiators at the summit will read this because this is what the negotiations should be about.  

Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries suffering from severe climate effects. For Nepal’s marginalised people and communities, climate change is both a reality and a threat. Extreme weather events, including torrential rains, floods and landslides, are becoming more frequent and intense. Millions of people are already experiencing the climate emergency and need immediate assistance. Economic and non-economic loss and damage are evident in Nepal and are not only a climate justice issue, but an issue of survival.  

A new report: When the climate is a threat: loss and Damage in Nepal by the Danish member of ACT Alliance, DanChurchAid, includes case studies of three different municipalities in Nepal that have suffered from climate change over the past five years. Climate-related floods and landslides have taken away lives, homes and livestock. The total economic loss in the three municipalities has been very high at around $388,355, with an average loss per household of just over $4,000.  

The study shows how displacement is becoming a major problem. While most community members have returned to their homes, 9 per cent have moved permanently to other locations. Recovery poses a major challenge for both displaced and returning families as most of those affected, 82 per cent, have had to take out loans to either relocate or rebuild following the disaster.  

Local governments have been first to respond, but due to financial constraints, only provided immediate support. The support that affected households received was insufficient, with the average family’s financial losses ranging from $1,000 to $13,500. None of the villages received international support. The report also shows a lack of insurance coverage in the affected communities which further increases the impact and risk of climate hazards.  

The report further examines community knowledge of disaster prevention and the efficiency of early warning systems. Despite substantial investment in these systems, limited human resources, limited technological knowledge and other issues mean there have been significant barriers to communicating early warning signals in a timely manner.  

The findings reveal that vulnerable communities will continue to experience loss and damage due to a lack of adequate infrastructure, limited knowledge, and weak institutional mechanisms, as well as a lack of technical and financial assistance and support. Both economic and non-economic loss and damage is evident in Nepal and is a common concern. It is also an issue of climate justice.  

The good news is that Nepal has launched several policy initiatives, including the National Loss and Damage Framework. But Nepal and other vulnerable countries still need additional technical, financial and capacity-building assistance to address climate-induced loss and damage. Direct financial and technical support to local governments and organisations will also be essential for grassroots employment. 

I hope the negotiations at COP26 will present a clear picture on how to respond to loss and damage and help Nepal and other vulnerable countries receive enough support. The need is urgent.  

 Rajan Thapa is the Climate Action Advisor with DanChurchAid in Nepal. DanChurchAid is an ACT Alliance member.

UNEP has just launched its annual Adaptation Gap Report, which this year is called “The Gathering Storm”. ACT Alliance is keen to see this report, as adaptation is a top priority and many of our members are working hard to promote adaptation solutions in vulnerable communities around the world. These are our comments to the report.

“We must remember that global warming continues to be a reality, and when the temperature continues to increase, so too will the need for adaptation. Adaptation measures must therefore be prepared for the future. A sea wall which is too low will not help,” said Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance. 

“Adaptation is needed where people live and work, on the local level. We must look for nature based solutions, and ensure that the most vulnerable are reached,” Bueno de Faria continued. “Without strong support for adaptation, through funding and also through non-market solutions, including nature-based solutions, the impacts of climate change will be even worse for the most vulnerable people in the world, particularly for women and girls.”

Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, Moderator of the ACT Alliance, said “We must remember that adaptation is a necessary measure for all of us. Climate change is real, and we must learn to live with its effects. The UNEP report shows that the need for adaptation goes far beyond the political agreements about climate finance. Right now developed countries deliver about 25 billion USD for adaptation. UNEP expects that there will be a need for 140 to 300 billion USD per year by 2030 to help developing countries to adapt. The gap is huge, particularly considering how difficult it has been for developed countries to reach the current 25 billion.”

“Even if we manage to hold global temperature rise to 1.5C, a target that feels less possible with every year of weak action on climate change, the need for adaptation will increase significantly in the coming years. as containing global warming even at that temperature will affect ecosystems, human health, and well-being. The world must plan for finance, and implement climate change adaption measures that respond to the needs of the most vulnerable people,” de Faria said.

Qvist-Sørensen concluded, “I hope all parties read this report. It is crucial that we all consider the need for adaptation. We call on developed countries to drastically scale up their support to adaptation. We must fill the gap!”

For questions, please contact: 
Mattias Söderberg, co-chair of the ACT Alliance climate change group. 
Mail: msd@dca.dk Phone: +45-29 70 06 09.

Five months after the latest escalation of the conflict in May 2021, representatives of three members of the ACT Palestine forum travelled to the Gaza strip in October 2021. The main purpose of their visit was to show solidarity with the ACT member organisations and people in the area. Their trip report not only highlights the large scale of destruction, but also the increasing hopelessness among the local population. The delegation was asked by people in the health sector to carry the message to international partners not to forget about the local organisations in the Gaza strip. 

Read the full report here: ACT Palestine Forum – A solidarity visit to Gaza

T

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. ~Psalm 24:1-2

All of Creation is hurting. Our climate is inarguably shifting. And people of faith are among those calling for urgent action.

This week, I am among a group of global leaders gathered for the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference. The 2020 gathering was cancelled due to COVID-19, and the two years since the last conference have seen one devastating disaster after another: from wildfires and severe drought to tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons, all made more complicated by the pandemic.

Leaders—political leaders as well as faith leaders—are at a critical point of engagement to protect the earth and build stronger communities. The pandemic has turned many of us inward in our spiritual journeys. We are searching for the meaning of life and how we live together as a global community. Leading voices of faith are critical in this moment to remind us of the Creation that we are called to love and protect. The water we drink, the air we breathe, the church camps we grew up in—these are all sacred and have profound meaning to us.

Faith leaders are among those addressing the gathering, sharing testimonies and calling for urgent action on behalf of the communities they represent. Rev. James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, shared a personal story about a cross that he wears around his neck. “Each of these shells were collected by my nieces and nephews, tied together with string, in the shape of a cross… This is the simple way in which the people of Kiribati make their jewelry: no diamonds, no gold, no silver. Just shells. And I wear this because they may not be able to do this for much longer. Because Kiribati is a poster child of sea level rise. This is the reality of my people, of the Pacific.” 

Rev. Bhagwan went on to say, “In places like Fiji, people are already being forced to relocate because of sea level rise. Our Pacific people have a deep spiritual relationship with the land and the sea. The practice of living is Shalom with both the land and sea. For years, we have been told that is not the way to live—that it is backward, it is ignorant.” But now, Bhagwan points out—this very way of living in “Shalom” with land and sea is what the world needs; it is this practice that might heal the earth.

The mission of Week of Compassion is to alleviate suffering, and it is becoming more and more apparent that a growing climate crisis causes significant suffering for God’s children around the world. That is why, along with our ecumenical and interfaith partners around the world, we are committed to supporting climate resilience programs. Where some of the world’s most vulnerable communities already struggle to survive under the burdens of a shifting environment, our combined efforts help provide hope and stability.

From Bosnia and Herzegovina to Puerto Rico, we help families to thrive through renewable technologies. From Honduras to Indonesia to Liberia and Sierra Leone, we support food security through sustainable agriculture. In these places, and in so many others, we work with partners to help empower farmers, families, and entire communities to thrive, despite mounting challenges to their livelihood and survival. Support for these programs goes a long way towards changing lives and creating a better future for all. But such interventions are not enough. The urgency of this moment, and the call for far-reaching systemic change, cannot be denied.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it,” the Psalmist proclaims. As global leaders and voices of faith continue to remind us, that is good news. In this moment, it is also a call to prayer, to care, and to action. We hold in prayer all those world leaders gathered in Glasgow for this timely and critical conversation on climate action, and we pray for all people of faith, around the world, who will work together in the season ahead to ensure the continued thriving of the earth.

With Hope and Gratitude,
Vy

Rev. Vy Nguyen is the Executive Director for Week of Compassion, the relief, development, and refugee ministry for the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. He lives in the Bay Area of Northern California with his wife and son.

Climate finance is one of the important topics of the COP26 agenda. At this summit parties will start to negotiate a new architecture and targets for climate finance. The new collective and quantified finance agreement should be applied by 2025. 

When parties start to talk about future climate finance, they should refer to past experience. For example, we know that developed countries failed by 2020 to deliver on the existing USD 100 billion a year target for climate finance. We know that they have favoured mitigation above adaptation. We also know that most of the funds are counted as both climate finance and official development aid. Some worrying trends such as an increase in loan financing, including for adaptation, are evident. 

As ACT Alliance Moderator, Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, says: 

“Climate finance is needed to enable climate action. With neither support nor investments, vulnerable countries will not be able to promote the green transition, ensure the necessary adaptation or rise above climate-induced loss and damage.” 

November 3rd is “climate finance day” at COP26, when ACT Alliance launches the new report Post 2025 Climate Finance Architecture Through a Climate Justice Lens. The report assesses the climate finance which has been delivered until now and proposes a way forward for a new post-2025 finance decision. 

As General Secretary of ACT Alliance, Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, says: 

“Most developed countries use ordinary development aid when they offer climate finance to developing countries. An increased focus on climate change, may thus lead to a reduced focus on other development needs. Any future climate finance agreement must ensure that climate finance is new and additional to development aid and that agreed-upon development aid is not undermined when the focus on climate finance increases.” 

“It is evident that developed countries have not prioritised adaptation when they have allocated their climate finance. Any future target should therefore have a separate focus on adaptation finance.” 

“The majority of existing climate finance is delivered as loans, but poor and vulnerable countries need grants, especially for adaptation. It is clear that any future finance decision should have targets for grants.” 

“As acknowledged in the Paris agreement, people, communities and countries face climate-induced loss and damage. Efforts to help people to tackle these challenges are not covered by existing finance agreements, and loss and damage should be included in any future decision.” 

As ACT Alliance Moderator, Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, says: 

“When parties are starting to negotiate about the future of climate finance, they should consider what has happened in the past. As shown in our report, there are many important lessons, and a new finance decision must ensure that support is delivered as promised.” 

“When we talk about climate finance, we often focus on the numbers. However, we should also remember that there are people behind the numbers, and that every dollar spent on climate finance will help us tackle the climate crisis.” 

For media enquiries please contact: 

Fiona Connelly, ACT Alliance – Climate Justice Communications Coordinator.
fiona.connelly@actalliance.org ; Phone: +44 7469311238 

Mattias Söderberg, ACT Alliance – Co-chair of the climate change group. 
msd@dca.dk ; Phone: +45 29700609 

Need some visuals for your story on finance at COP26?

Join ACT Alliance, Christian Aid and members of other faith-based organisations for an action on climate finance that will explain the issues from the perspective of communities in the Global South in a simple and direct way.

Two banners, including an NSF cheque from developed nations to lesser developed nations, and a visual representation (with chocolate coins) of the differences in the amounts of money going to Adaptation, Mitigation and Loss and Damage will illustrate the issues that many developing nations have with:

• the current climate finance situation,
• the need for increased ambition for new and additional funding for loss and damage through the Santiago network, and
• an increased share of existing climate finance for adaptation work.

When: Wednesday, November 3, 12:30pm.

Where: Hall D, in front of the restaurant corridor, at the white wall where there are some chairs

Who: (to be confirmed) Interviews can be made available for

• Julius Mbatia, Kenya. Climate Justice Programme Manager, ACT Alliance.
• Patriciah Roy Akulloh, Uganda. Climate Justice Group Co-chair
• Jennifer Larbie Omodara, UK Advocacy and Policy Lead, Christian Aid

Media contact:

Simon Chambers, Director of Communications, ACT Alliance
Mobile: +44 7423 277 440
Email: simon.chambers@actalliance.org

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).