As the last round of climate change negotiations start in Bangkok, Thailand, ACT Alliance joins other climate justice movements to call for significant progress in the development of the rulebook to guide the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

“Major decisions on the implementation of the Paris agreement will be made at COP24 in Poland later this year, and this will depend on how much progress is made in the Bangkok negotiations. We want to see significant steps forward in all the negotiations to enable governments to make the necessary decisions when they meet at COP24,” says Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary.

The rulebook, which elaborates the modalities, procedures and guidelines for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, is extremely important because it determines how and whether the agreement can be implemented in a manner that is ambitious and equitable or not.

“The goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming by 1.5 degrees, to build global resilience to the impacts of climate change and to provide financial resources to support the efforts of developing countries to respond to climate change can only be achieved if the rulebook reflects the necessary transparency, accountability, and ambition  and deliver climate justice that respects human rights and contributes to sustainable development” says Martin Vogel, Chair of the ACT Alliance climate change group.

As an official observer to the UNFCCC, ACT Alliance has sent a delegation of policy experts to engage with the Bangkok negotiations and to support the efforts of most vulnerable developing countries while holding government accountable to the decisions they made in Paris in 2015.

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For media inquiries please contact ACT’s Climate Change Communications Coordinator, Joanna Patouris joanna.patouris@actalliance.org

ACT Alliance accompanied an ecumenical delegation from the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace in Nicaragua on 28-29 August. The purpose of the visit was to promote dialogue and to provide solidarity and accompaniment to the Nicaraguan church in their trauma, and to work towards resolving the ongoing conflicts in the country.

ACT Alliance and WCC released a message emphasising their commitment to support the role of national churches in Nicaragua in the midst of the ongoing conflict and social tensions.

“As Christians, we are called to be promoters of peace with justice, so as to transform pain into hope. Peace is only achieved when all have been able to express their pain, admit their responsibility (by action or omission), and commit themselves to fraternal dialogue,” the message reads. 

The delegation met with WCC member churches, ACT’s Nicaragua Forum, representatives of several local evangelical churches, the Roman Catholic Bishops Conference, the Nicaraguan foreign ministry, the president of the national assembly and representatives of civil society.

In a statement issued on 6 June 2018, the ACT Alliance Nicaragua Forum called for “Support and solidarity from the international ecumenical family and the commitment of the international community for justice and peace in Nicaragua.

The full message is available here.

ACT Alliance joins the Vatican and ecumenical partners to encourage global progress on climate change

The First Ecumenical Prayer for Creation will take place on August 31 and September 1 in Assisi, the city of Francis. The two-day event is the latest sign of momentum for environmental protection growing among leaders of Christian denominations.  

Christians, who represent approximately one-third of all people on Earth, are increasingly uniting around specific initiatives to tackle the challenge of environmental degradation. The Season of Creation presents a unique moment to celebrate the faith and service of ACT Alliance members and ecumenical partners in prayer and action to care for creation.

During the prayer service, top representatives of the world’s Christian traditions will call the faithful to care for the Earth during the Season of Creation. They will also call for ambition at this December’s UN climate negotiations in Poland.

The Assisi event will open an annual global celebration of prayer and action to protect the Earth, the Season of Creation.  The Season of Creation is supported by leaders of the world’s major Christian denominations.  It will be observed with hundreds of hands-on events on six continents.

August 31, 17.30-19.30

• Events will take place in the Room of St. Francis’ Renunciation, to encourage reflection on the need for an ecological conversion.  
• Remarks will be contributed by Fr. Bruno-Marie Duffé, Secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Abp. Bernard Ntahoturi, representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Archim. Athenagoras Fasiolo, representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and others.

September 1, 10.00

• Events will take place outside the Basilica of St. Francis.
• Greetings will be shared by H.E. Card. Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Council of Bishops’ Conference in Europe (CCEE), Rev. Christian Krieger, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Fr. Mauro Gambetti, Guardian of the Sacred Convent, and others. 
• Leaders will issue a joint statement. The reading of the joint statement will be followed by a performance and symbolic action by people who are most vulnerable, including people with disabilities, children, and migrants.

ACT Alliance will accompany Mons. Paolucci Bedini, Bishop of Gubbio, pilgrims, and vulnerable people to take the first steps on a pilgrimage to Gubbio, now in its 10th year, and symbolically send the spirit of St. Francis to join a pilgrimage to the COP24 climate negotiations.

A full program is available here, and the full list of participants is available here. The two-day event is being coordinated by the Bishop of Assisi, the Bishop of Gubbio, the Sacro Convento, and the Serafico Institute.  

Events for the Season of Creation are coordinated by an ecumenical steering committee including ACT Alliance, the Global Catholic Climate Movement, World Council of Churches, Anglican Communion Environmental Network, Lutheran World Federation, A Rocha, Christian Aid,  Lausanne/World Evangelical Alliance Creation Care Network, World Communion for Reformed Churches.

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For media inquiries please contact Joanna Patouris, Climate Change Communications Coordinator, ACT Alliance, tel: +1647-971-5360,  joanna.patouris@actalliance.org.

The ACT Program Manager for Migration & Displacement, Christian Wolff, read the joint NGO statement below at the final round of formal consultations for the Global Compact on Refugees in Geneva.

Dear Chairperson, 

Eighteen months ago, we embarked on a multi-stakeholder process to transform the way we address large-scale movements and protracted situations. Much effort went into defining a collective vision for a world, where those forced to flee can enjoy protection and fundamental rights, and where host States can count on international solidarity. 

We commend UNHCR’s efforts to keep our collective ambition high, while accommodating diverging views. Progress was made in several key areas, particularly on operationalising responsibility-sharing; mainstreaming age, gender, diversity and disability considerations and fostering participation of affected populations. 

While not legally binding, the compact now carries the moral compulsion to transform the lives of refugees and host communities. It should therefore set new standards for action. 

Nevertheless, much work remains to define and coordinate the various pieces into a coherent whole. We need to ensure the emergence of robust responsibility-sharing arrangements that complement each other, bring additionality, remain sustainable and avoid politicization. 

Although the compact gradually took a development orientation, we emphasize the continued centrality of protection, solutions and of humanitarian principles. As we speak, durable solutions are still a pipedream for millions of refugees, while thousands more are denied their fundamental right to seek asylum. Conflict rages in the Middle-East, monsoons loom menacingly on refugee camps in South Asia, hundreds of people perish in the Mediterranean, while others flee violence in Central America only to encounter prisons and wrenching separations. States should guarantee people’s right to seek asylum and respect non-refoulement. Moreover, all persons in need of protection should be able to access it, including those fleeing adverse impacts of climate change and disasters. Countries facing such challenges must also benefit from responsibility-sharing arrangements. 

We therefore envision the compact to result in robust protection and durable solutions; lead to timely, effective and inclusive responses; and encourage meaningful participation and sustainable partnerships. The non-exhaustive spirit of the compact also applies to protection guarantees, meaning that States must adhere to protection principles, even if some are not fully detailed in the compact. NGOs will continue to advocate strongly from this perspective, holding ourselves and others accountable. 

The compact’s strength will hinge on its capacity to generate additional resources, primarily through the Global Refugee Forum. There should be a solidified and enhanced civil society role in the Forum, bi-annual meetings and other arrangements. NGOs will consider creating platforms for this purpose. Modalities for participation of affected populations are also needed, such as a space to feed into the Forum, helping to identify gaps, making commitments and participating in follow-up. 

On implementation, NGOs recognize that responses must also go beyond traditional approaches. Legal and policy measures aimed at enhancing refugee rights must complement operational responses and improve socio-economic conditions. We also welcome progress in mainstreaming disability and youth considerations but continue to regret that the best interest of the child does not feature under durable solutions. Moreover, noting the focus on ‘women and girls’ instead of ‘gender’, we highlight the imperative of unpacking gender-based norms and power dynamics affecting all persons. Several NGOs also regret that the GCR does not refer to often lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services. 

Going forward, it will be vital to ensure complementarity between the two compacts and increase operational coordination between all stakeholders. We also urge strengthening the GCR application in mixed migration situations, which represent an essential operational reality in ensuring refugee protection and assistance.  

Finally, measuring progress through a credible monitoring and evaluation framework will be crucial. We appreciate that room was made for mid-term reviews and welcome the reference to the development of indicators. We underline that the four objectives must translate into people-centred and collectively defined outcomes and targets, fully aligned with the responsibility-sharing arrangements. Those must encapsulate concrete improvements in the lives of refugees. NGOs remain eager to provide expertise in the development of accountability tools and mechanisms. 

In closing, over the past months, new ideas emerged – some more crystallised than others – and we must maintain efforts to shape these approaches. NGOs will continue engaging in fine-tuning the compact’s building blocks. We are eager to start a conversation on modalities for participation. 

A detailed version of this intervention is available on icvanetwork.org 

Thank you. 

ACT Alliance, Arigatou International, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Soka Gakkai International (SGI)and World Vision International have come together as the Asia Pacific Faith-Based Coalition for Sustainable Development to participate in the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) from 3 – 6 July, 2018.
 
The Asia Pacific Faith-Based Coalition for Sustainable Development has developed a joint Statement emphasizing the role of FBOs in the localization of risk reduction, resilience building and humanitarian action in relation to disaster risk reduction.
 
The Statement reads, “They [FBOs] are always among the first responders in emergencies, providing shelter during evacuation and meeting other basic needs (i.e. food, water, clothing) of those affected. They have been sources of community-based and managed social capital for healing and recovery. Furthermore, FBOs are contributing substantial material, financial and social resources for risk prevention, reduction and humanitarian action worldwide, particularly in Asia.”
 
ACT has joined the coalition at the AMCDRR to further share and discuss the Statement. The coalition will host a side event and will exhibit its work at the ‘AMCDRR Marketplace’.“The Statement showcases the solidarity and commitment of the multi-faith community to work together on disaster risk reduction. The Coalition has collaborated closely on the Statement and we are happy to share it at the AMCDRR,” said James Munpa ACT’s Programme Officer for the Asia/Pacific region.
 
“In the Asian context, FBOs provide a source of community-based social capital for the most vulnerable in terms of risk prevention, risk reduction and humanitarian response,” continued James.
 
The Statement further emphasizes that FBOs are an asset for the effective implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) which places a strong focus on reducing the risk and protection gaps among the most vulnerable.
 
The full Statement is available here

Through its Global Climate Action Project which kicked off in 2017, ACT Alliance has embarked on an ambitious plan to implement its long-standing climate justice programme in the context of the Paris Agreement, Agenda 2030 and the Sendai Framework for DRR through a series of capacity building workshops.

The growing mobilisation of the faith community allows ACT to further amplify the urgency for climate justice, ambition, and solidarity at the national and international levels.

Climate change is one of the most significant threats to lives and livelihoods around the world. As temperatures continue to rise it is the poor and most vulnerable people that are living on the frontlines of its increasingly stronger and more frequent impacts.

To limit these impacts on the climate vulnerable, the 1.5°C temperature rise threshold that was agreed to in Paris (2015) must be maintained. In order to do so while alleviating poverty and ensuring justice, national capacities need to be strengthened so that the tremendous potential of low carbon development can be mobilized for community resilience.

The components of the Paris Agreement and the complementary global policy frameworks established in 2015, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, can only be achieved if implemented hand in hand.

To increase the ownership, ambition and transparency that is necessary for the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, broad stakeholder participation including that of faith based organizations (FBOs) will be required. Churches, FBOs and social movements have the potential to share knowledge, build commitment and to promote values for the care of creation.  

The international community is at a critical intersection of opportunity and urgency to further strengthen the capacity of ACT Forums, partners and churches to engage in national advocacy for the ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement.

ACT has conducted climate change advocacy and campaigns work on climate justice and the international climate policy framework since it was founded in 2010, focusing on processes that led to the Paris Agreement. ACT’s climate justice work focuses on three pillars: advocacy and mobilization, capacity building and research and knowledge generation.

The first round of capacity building workshops covered four of ACT’s regions: Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. A total of 82 individuals representing ACT members, forums, staff and partners from 33 countries were trained.

The workshops aim to build the in-country capacity of ACT Forums, partners and churches to conduct advocacy for the ambitious and scaled-up implementation of the Paris Agreement and to better align their national climate, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development work with the ongoing global processes. These workshops are undertaken in collaboration with the ACT Alliance Advocacy Academy.

A second round of capacity building workshops in the four regions will take place this year.

The following workshops have been scheduled:

• Africa Region, Nairobi: 10-12 July, 2018
• Asia Region, Bangkok: 31 August – 2 September, 2018
• Middle East Region, Cairo: 18- 20 September, 2018
• Latin America and the Caribbean, (location tbc): 3-6 September, 2018

We invite you to stay tuned for updates on the Global Climate Action Project and to follow our ACT Now For Climate Justice Campaign on Facebook, and @actclimate on Twitter for highlights!

For any questions on the project, please contact:
Arnold Ambundo Arnold.Ambundo@actalliance.org; or
Joanna Patouris joanna.patouris@actalliance.org

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.” – Matthew 18:5

In the face of the “Zero-tolerance” Immigration Policy of the United States Government, the ACT Forums of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala:

• Find that the US immigration policy of separating children from their parents or guardians has been arbitrary, cruel and inhumane because it violates laws and international protection agreements, as well as, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which provides special protection for girls and boys.
• Believe that the executive order of President Donald Trump to stop the separation of immigrant children from their parents is a measure that will stop the separation of children from their parents, but that does not guarantee that their rights will be respected. They will be detained together with their parents, which constitute child abuse, violation of their rights and continue to violate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• As Faith-Based Organizations reject any discriminatory measure that brings
  more pain to families and abuse of children, causing traumas and damage, perhaps irreversible.
• Ask the Government of the United States to stop these practices immediately and to honor the CRC with a zero-tolerance approach towards child abuse. 
• Call on the governments of the region to ensure the well-being of these children so that their rights are respected; guarantee that the best interests of the children are always given priority and the laws for the protection of children are observed; follow up on the treatment they receive at the border and in the detention centers; and guarantee the necessary conditions so that the population does not need to migrate.
• Urge the churches in Central America, and national and international organizations, to send letters to the Government of the United States demanding that Government officials take swift and efficient action to stop this practice; and dedicate cults, masses and other actions to sensitize the religious people about the abuse suffered by our children at the United States border.

San Salvador, June 22, 2018.

La asamblea inaugural de ACT Alianza en Arusha, Tanzania, en 2010, resolvió que el cambio climático era una amenaza para la vida, los medios de vida y toda la creación. Como resultado, se identificó como una prioridad para el trabajo de incidencia de ACT Alianza a todo nivel. Desde entonces, ACT Alianza ha participado en muchas iniciativas de justicia climática, incluido el trabajo de incidencia y campañas en el contexto de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), así como en los niveles nacional y comunitario.

Los miembros de ACT Alianza y foros en todo el mundo continúan abogando por la justicia climática (particularmente en apoyo de la resiliencia comunitaria en países en desarrollo), la reducción de la emisión de gases de efecto invernadero, el aumento de la accesibilidad a  nuevo y adicional financiamiento climático, y acciones climáticas que son guiadas por la inclusión de los principios de derechos humanos, equidad, equidad intergeneracional, participación plena y significativa de la juventud, y justicia de género.

Como ACT Alianza, creemos que el Acuerdo de París (AP) proporciona un marco político significativo que tiene el potencial de orientar acciones ambiciosas para afrontar el cambio climático y sus impactos. La meta de mantener el aumento de la temperatura global en 1.5 °C, o bien por debajo de los 2 °C, requiere de  la movilización y acciones climáticas a nivel nacional. Simultáneamente, se necesita realizar esfuerzos significativos para crear una resiliencia global al cambio climático por medio de la transformación de las economías y sociedades hacia una vía de desarrollo basada en bajas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Por lo tanto, la implementación del AP debe estar vinculada a la transformación de todos los sectores económicos y debe hacerse en conjunto con la implementación de otros marcos políticos claves, en particular los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y el Marco de Sendai para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres (MSRRD).

Esta caja de herramientas está diseñada para apoyar las acciones de incidencia de los miembros, foros y socios de ACT Alianza a nivel nacional. Se enfoca en los tres instrumentos estipulados en el AP, las Contribuciones Determinadas a Nivel Nacional (NDC, por sus siglas en inglés), los Planes Nacionales de Adaptación (NAP, por sus siglas en inglés) y las Estrategias de Largo Plazo (LTS por sus siglas en inglés), que son  estrategias de desarrollo hacia mediados de siglo, basadas en bajas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. ACT Alianza anima a que todo el trabajo de incidencia climática se guíe por los principios de la justicia climática.

Llamamos  a todos nuestros miembros y foros a usar esta caja de herramientas, no solo con fines de incidencia, sino también para la creación de capacidades y para facilitar las discusiones y reflexiones internas, con el fin de asegurar la integración de las especificidades de los contextos nacionales en nuestro trabajo global de justicia climática.

Esta caja de herramientas está disponible aquí en español y aquí en inglés.

ACT Alliance is pleased to share our new Resource Guide to Climate Finance: An orientation to sources of funds for climate change programmes and action. It is available in English and Spanish.

Ambitious climate action in developing countries depends on the mobilization and accessibility to financial resources. Climate finance is important for mitigation efforts, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also for adaptation, to support communities in adapting to climate change and reducing the adverse impacts of climate change on their communities.

This Resource Guide is designed to assist ACT Forums, members, partners, Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), and others to identify some of the funds available within the global climate finance architecture that may be relevant for their climate-related programmes and projects.

The Guide covers 25 multilateral, 16 bilateral, 13 private, 10 faith-based, 3 national, and 1 regional grant providers. It is inclusive of funds with high eligibility criteria, as well as funds that are more accessible for small, less institutionalised organizations with modest climate change project experience.

The Guide explores some of the frequently asked questions related to climate funds including background information, sectoral and regional focus, eligibility criteria, application deadlines (where known), contact details and online links for additional information. Each analysis ends with a brief assessment of the relevance of the fund for ACT members as grant-seekers.

It is recommended that you use this Resource Guide to complement your ongoing search for climate finance sources. We would like to encourage you to use this resource and to share it with your networks and partners. We are pleased to offer any additional support in using the toolkit.  

The English version is available here.

The Spanish version is available here.

For any questions or comments please contact Joanna Patouris, joanna.patouris[@]actalliance.org.

ACT’s General Secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria addressed the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 15 June 2018 at a Plenary Session entitled Ecumenical Diakonia and Sustainable Development.

ACT, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the WCC have developed a study document on Ecumenical Diakonia with the aim of encouraging dialogue and building the capacity of churches and ecumenical partners to engage in diakonia and sustainable development.

In his address, de Faria acknowledged the efforts and influences of churches and faith based organizations (FBOs) in communities. “Historically, churches have played a prophetic role, they have shaped local and global political and development agendas and have emphasized values of inclusion and human dignity,” he said.

Despite these positive contributions, there is at the same time a growing level of polarization occurring between communities on certain social and political issues. The increased amount of segregation and discrimination occurring in different parts of the world is bringing the human rights framework and sustainable development under attack. “Even some churches are associating themselves with populist politicians, political parties and economic groups that promote agendas that deepen exclusion and undermine human dignity,” said de Faria.

De Faria acknowledged the crisis of values that is occurring around the world and urged churches and FBOs to raise their prophetic voice to support marginalized communities. “The time is ripe for ecumenical diakonia. We need to leverage our Christian values and uniqueness as FBOs and to establish strategic partnerships with religious and secular organizations that are fighting to uphold human dignity, peace and justice,” he continued.

Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals provides churches and diaconal organizations and institutions with a political and transformational framework to engage in ecumenical diakonia and to address the factors that are undermining development and human life and are putting God’s creation at risk.

De Faria further noted that the increasing recognition of the role of religion in development also presents an opportunity for diakonia and building alliances with people of faith and religious communities in the struggle for justice.

“We have to recognize that we are in an era of change and we should together identify the potential for the prophetic and political engagement of churches and diaconal organizations,” he said. “Although there is much work to still be done, the first step is to recognize that we are a part of one ecumenical movement and we will work together,” concluded de Faria.