PRESS RELEASE

The ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches, call for a prioritization of climate justice as US President Donald Trump issues executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement.  They express deep dismay at this development, which goes against global commitments to address climate change.

The three faith based bodies actively contributed the development of the Paris agreement, welcomed its outcomes and the commitments of the nations of the world to it.

“Only 18 months ago global leaders welcomed the landmark Paris Climate Agreement for taking into account the immediate needs of countries most severely affected by the impacts of climate change.  The move by the President of the United States today flies in the face of ethics and Christian values,” says Rudelmar Bueno De Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary.

“Addressing climate change equals protecting human beings, their workplaces and the economies of the world. The LWF will continue to promote climate justice, as an issue of intergenerational justice, in the conviction that creation is not for sale,” says Martin Junge, LWF General Secretary.

“This is a tragedy, missing an opportunity to show real, accountable leadership for the future of humanity and our common home. This is a decision that is not morally sustainable – and not economically sustainable either. The struggle for climate justice has to continue,” says Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC General Secretary.

As global temperatures continue to rise, severe floods, droughts and superstorms are becoming more and more commonplace. It is the most vulnerable people who are hit first.

The poorest countries will be hit twice more: first by unwillingness to curb US carbon emissions, and then by a planned decrease in climate finance to support people in adapting to the impacts of climate change and towards a transition to clean energy for poor countries.

The implementation of the Paris agreement is the only way for the human family to turn away from the threat of global warming. The ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches affirm their commitment to climate justice and call on the nations of the world to stand by the commitments of the Paris Agreement.

ENDS

Contact
Simon Chambers
Head of Communications, ACT Alliance
simon.chambers@actalliance.org
Tel: +1-647-939-5859

Arni Danielsson
Head of Communication, Lutheran World Federation
asd@lutheranworld.org
Tel. +41 78 929 9686

Marianne Ejdersten
Director of communication, World Council of Churches
Mej@wcc-coe.org
Tel: +41 79 597 63 63

Ecumenical leaders, ACT secretariat staff, WCC and LWF leaders, the ACT governing board and others gathered in Geneva yesterday to celebrate John Nduna’s work with first ACT International and then as General Secretary of ACT Alliance since its founding.

John was praised for his ecumenical approach, his ability to lead in difficult times, and for the vision with which he crafted the ACT Alliance into one of the largest faith-based networks of humanitarian and sustainable development agencies.

John compared his time with ACT to a pilgrimage, a journey.  “The formation of ACT Alliance is one of the things the ecumenical family has done a good job of,” he said to those gathered.  “To address the suffering of the people out of war, natural disasters, those who are marginalized.  ACT has worked with so many people in so many places, but difficult places.  We always go to the hardest to reach places.  The staff of the members of ACT have been unrelenting to assure that we provide whatever assistance or programs are needed.”

“I sincerely believe in ecumenism,” he continued.  “Working with WCC, LWF, and other sister church organizations has been a pleasant experience for me.  I would like to say ‘continue with the cooperation that is ongoing among all sister organizations.’”John’s successor, Rudelmar Bueno de Fario, begins his role as General Secretary today.  “I said to Rudelmar, ‘the door is open,” John said.  Then he continued jokingly, “But he was quick to say in the meeting this morning, ‘Yes, John opened the door.  I can call him any time.  But yesterday he changed his telephone number!’  But Rudelmar, you can rest assured that the old telephone number is still working.”

ACT wishes John all blessings as he moves on to the next phase of his life, and welcomes Rudelmar into his new role.

The Karamojong region in northeastern Uganda is the most marginalized and vulnerable region in the country. Home to cattle-herding nomads, Karamojong has been trapped in a cycle of conflict for generations as warriors have battled the government—and each other—for cattle and survival.  Droughts have increased in severity and frequency over the years, leading to chronic food insecurity and widespread economic hardships in the region, just like in many other districts in the arid and semi-arid areas of the country. Prolonged droughts have led to drying of crops and grasses for animals that form the basis for the region’s livelihood.

Communities have been relying on food donations from relief humanitarian agencies and the government of Uganda’s relief aid. This has not been a sustainable venture considering that the humanitarian agencies and government have shifted their attention to the over one million South Sudanese refugees currently living in Uganda.

“Sometimes we sleep without any meal. Would be dead by now if there were no support from the government and non-government organizations,” said a 12 year-old boy who herds his family’s cattle.

However, efforts to build resilience and cope up with the recurring hunger arising from bad harvests and prolonged droughts have been embraced by many communities. Programmes such as backyard farming and alternative sources of livelihoods in addition to livestock, disease surveillance, drought early warning systems (Dews) and community managed disaster risk reduction (CMDRR) are helping people in Karamojong to be more resilient in the face of disasters.

But more needs to be done.  Crop yields continue to be low due to reliance on natural rain-fed agriculture. There is a need to support technologies that will increase water production to improve harvests, increasing food security for the communities in the region.

It’s the hope of these communities that international meetings as the Global Platform for DRR will translate into practical outcomes that directly make their lives better with hope for survival amidst the challenging times.

____________

Patriciah Roy Akullo works for ACT member DCA as the Advocacy Officer for the Uganda Forum.  She engages in national and regional level advocacy on climate change and DRR among other advocacy issues pertinent to the forum.

Recognizing the unprecedented challenges to human well-being and safety posed by climate change related disasters, ACT Alliance is working actively to minimize the impacts of disasters through prevention, mitigation, and preparedness programs in over 100 countries. We are rooted in communities, where we assist people in identifying their risk, resources, and capacity to cope with the disasters.

The ACT DRR-CCA (Disaster Risk Reduction- Climate Change Adaptation) Award is awarded each year by ACT’s DRR-CCA Community of Practice (CoP) to an ACT member who has shown innovation and best practices in a programme over the last year.  The ACT Award winner is named during the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, taking place in Mexico now, which reviews the progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework on DRR (SFDRR) which was adopted in March 2015 in Japan. The CoP is showcasing the unique role of Faith Based Organizations in DRR and is promoting locally-led DRR-work during the Global Platform. The winning organization has been invited to the Global Platform for DRR to present the project’s achievements to the public.

The winner for the 2017 ACT DRR-CCA award is the Lighthouse Project in Indonesia by Pusbinlat (Training Centre) Motivator GT, a partner of Bread for the World and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe. The project  successfully  increased the community’s awareness of the potential negative impacts of climate change on their livelihoods and steps which can be taken to adapt capacities, increase resilience and reduce poverty such as:

• tree planting,
• reducing the use of agricultural chemicals,
• use of organic compost and pesticides,
• promoting local seed varieties,
• refraining from burning rice straw,
• reducing the use of plastics,
• improving income and nutrition through home gardening,
• diversifying crops and increasing the variety of foods eaten,
• along with protecting housing and lives, and
• developing opportunities for climate-friendly alternative livelihoods.

Today the ACT Award winner will present the project in the central hall in front of the main entrance of the Global Platform conference, putting ACT Alliance and Faith Based Organisations right in the spotlight!

Follow the ACT Alliance delegation on twitter during the Global Platform for DRR 2017 in Cancun, Mexico and share the power of faith in reducing risks to disasters!

@actalliance
@michaelmoss44
@tamas_cos
Hashtag: #MexicoGP2017

Phichet Munpa (James), ACT Alliance Secretariat, Asia/Pacific
Regional Program Officer Asia/Pacific

PRESS RELEASE

 

In this day and age, famine cannot be tolerated, not just because every human being is valued in God’s sight and has the right to eat but also because starvation singles out the weakest and most vulnerable from among us.

It is the moral duty of wealthy nations to do all they can to provide life-saving funding and assistance and to work to end the underlying conditions that drive starvation: conflict, poor governance and climate change.

Last Sunday more than one billion Christians were called to take part in a Global Day of Prayer to End Famine. We as signatories helped lead that global event because we believe that this crisis demands our prayers and that governments, society and people of faith must act.

The current crisis is happening against a backdrop of worsening hunger. The number of people needing food assistance has risen by 35 per cent in the last year, from 80 to 108 million people. This appalling statistic flies in the face of global commitments to end poverty and hunger by 2030 and suggests that while things are improving for the vast majority of the world, things are worsening for the already worst off.

Humanitarian organizations – and our church members on the ground – are warning of catastrophe. In East Africa hundreds of thousands of people are now on the move, fleeing starvation and conflict or displaced across borders into hardscrabble settlements. Uganda now hosts the world’s largest refugee camp – Bidi Bidi, with more than 270,000 people. Every day thousands more South Sudanese arrive in Uganda, among them hundreds of unaccompanied children whose parents have been lost or killed. Food aid is desperately short.

In Somalia, hundreds of thousands have fled the dry lands where drought has destroyed whole herds of livestock and left villages with nothing to stay for. Aid workers report of mothers losing their children to hunger and thirst on the long trek to find food and water.

Cholera, diarrhea and other diseases are also killing children, their weakened bodies unable to cope with what otherwise is treatable. They and their families are dying silently in remote villages, on the march to find help, or trapped in conflict kill zones, where they are subject to bombings, kidnapping, rape and violence. Children are paying a particularly heavy price.

The last time that the world heard of famine was in 2011, when 260,000 Somalis died – half of them children. The situation is worse now. The UN says it has not seen a humanitarian crisis of this scale since 1945. Even though we know the trajectory of this crisis, the response is far too slow. Why is it that we only respond when death is staring us in the face?

This is why this crisis demands inspirational leadership from the G7 heads of state. Their leadership is needed to drive action in three areas.

First are commitments for the money required to fund life-saving aid. These include, along with food assistance, the therapeutic treatment and supplements children need to bring them back from the brink, deployment of water trucks to provide clean drinking water, and health and sanitation interventions to halt the spread of deadly diseases. So far only $1.6 billion of the $4.9 billion needed has been received. The rest is needed now. Any commitments must be converted into disbursements.

Second, commitment is needed to the hard work of addressing the drivers of conflict and injustice. This means consistently engaging in the world’s toughest and most dangerous places. Nations and international agencies need to resolve to foster peace before conflicts break out; hold governments accountable for perpetrating human rights abuses and escalating, rather than de-escalating conflicts; partner with governments to build institutions, civil society and the rule of law; and fund programmes that help the poor deal with climate change.

The G7 must reject the ideas of those who call for less intervention and for clawing aid money away from humanitarian and development work. More, rather than less, is needed if the cancerous effects of injustice, displacement and isolation are to be averted.

Finally, we pray that the G7 leaders will inspire all governments to stand with the world’s most vulnerable to bring about the same kind of improved prosperity that hundreds of millions of people have already experienced. The famine crisis we are now witnessing is the death rattle of extreme poverty. It requires the continued political will, engagement and funding of governments and their citizens to end it. Now is the time to save lives and get on with the job of eradicating this scourge.

ENDS

Signatories:

ACT Alliance
John Nduna
General Secretary
Contact person: Nick Clarke, head of strategy and partnerships
Tel: +41 22 791 6235
Mobile: +41 79 505 4927
Skype: nick.c.nz

Caritas in Veritate International-CiVI
Henry Cappello
President and Executive Director
Offices for CiVI USA (Arise and China)
3443, N. Central Avenue, Suite 1002,
Phoenix, AZ 85012, USA
t. +1 202 997 8888
t. +1 602 795 9810
henry@caritasinveritate.com

Lutheran World Federation
Rev. Dr Martin Junge
General Secretary
Contact person: Arni Svanur Danielsson, head of communication
Email: asd@lutheranworld.org
Phone: +41 22 791 6367

The Salvation Army
General André Cox
Contact person: Lt Colonel Dean Pallant
Director of the International Social Justice Commission
International Social Justice Commission
Email: IHQ-Communications@salvationarmy.org
Phone: +44 [0] 7825 427088

World Council of Churches
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General Secretary
Contact person: Marianne Ejdersten, director of communication
Email: mej@wcc-coe.org
Phone: +41 79 507 63 63
Skype: marianne.ejdersten

World Evangelical AllianceBishop Efraim M. Tendero
Contact person: Christine MacMillan
Associate Secretary General – Public Engagement,
Chair: Global Human Trafficking & Refugee Task Forces
World Evangelical Alliance
M. +1.416.825.6282 E. christinem@worldea.org
W. worldea.org F. facebook.com/worldea
Church Street Station, P.O. Box 3402, New York, NY 10008-3402

World Vision International
Thabani Maphosa
Partnership Leader, Food Assistance
Email: thabani_maphosa@wvi.org
Cell: +1 (202) 341 7549
Skype: thabani_maphosa
300 I Street, N.E. | Washington, DC, 20002 USA

Chris Derksen Hiebert
World Vision International,
Director, Public Policy and External Relations
Email: chris_derksen-hiebert@wvi.org
Phone: 1.416.275.0818
Skype: chrisderksenhiebert
Based in Canada (GMT-4)
Chris, will be available at the G7 from Wednesday, May 24

Christopher Hoffman MPM,
World Vision International,
East Africa Regional Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director,
Mob: +254 705 165 535
Skype: chrishoffmandrm
Christopher is available to talk about the humanitarian response in East Africa

PRESS RELEASE

As the international community gathers in Cancun, Mexico for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, ACT Alliance calls for the reduction of vulnerabilities and an increased focus on the human rights and dignity of people currently facing significant risks as a result of different types of catastrophes.

“Communities and people in all the corners of the world that are daily facing disasters as a result of the impacts of climate and other threats should be at the center of the Cancun discussion; we want to see their resilience as the highest priority,” said John Nduna, ACT Alliance’s General Secretary.

At the Cancun conference, ACT Alliance is showcasing best practices from the work of its members in communities and calling for the realities of people to be prioritized in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which guides global policy and action.

The Global Platform is the main forum at the global level for strategic advice, coordination, partnership development and the review of progress in the implementation of international instruments on disaster risk reduction. It was established in 2006 and is now the world’s foremost gathering of stakeholders committed to reducing disaster risk and building the resilience of communities and nations. The Global Platform holds biennial sessions. The current Global Platform marks the first platform since the adoption of the Sendai Framework for DRR.

“ACT Alliance calls upon governments and all stakeholders to identify and address vulnerabilities by increasing investments towards building resilience,” said Jeroen Jurriens, the leader of the ACT community of practice on disaster risk reduction, and also the head of the ACT Alliance delegation at the Cancun conference.

“Furthermore, ACT Alliance calls for the recognition of the synergy between the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals. In the reality of people’s lives disasters, climate change and poverty do not come as separate events,” said Jurriens.

“Stakeholders should recognize the value of empowerment and enhancing social capital. In the process of implementing the Sendai Framework, ACT Alliance also calls on the various stakeholders to recognize the key role that faith-based organizations can play in risk prevention and reduction, preparedness and humanitarian action,” added Nduna, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance.

ENDS

1. Read the full ACT Alliance statement for the Global Platform here.
2. See: http://www.unisdr.org/conferences/2017/globalplatform/en
3. Contact person:

Jeroen Jurriens
Program Specialist Disaster Management
ICCO & Kerk in Actie  / ACT Alliance
Phone: +31 6 10884863
Email: jeroen.jurriens@icco-cooperation.org

“Give us today our daily bread.” We know the prayer, we need the prayer and the prayer reminds us of who is the ultimate giver. But the next prayer seems to deal with something totally different: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us”. It does not.

On this Global Day of Prayer to end Famine, the problem is not a greedy God, who does not equip us with resources to end famine. There is enough food. There is food in abundance. Humans are the problem, those who have in abundance – that is: we who have in abundance. With stronger will and more imagination many of us could eat differently, not so close to the top of the nutritional chain. With stronger will, more imagination and less greed the resources could be shared, the distribution made more effective and the right to food could become a fully accepted Human Right.

Through ACT Alliance, we work to ensure that all have enough to eat.  Humanitarian relief provides food and water to those in need in the face of disasters.  Churches and agencies work on sustainable development programs to increase people’s and communities’ access to enough good, healthy food to eat every day.  ACT members join their voices in advocacy around climate change, gender justice and other issues to encourage governments to respect human rights, to support the most vulnerable people, and to provide necessary protections and actions to ensure that there is enough for all.

We have reason to ask for forgiveness, that God forgives us and that others forgive us.  And we have reason to act, as people, as Churches, and as society.

These two prayers belong together. It is when we are aware of our responsibilities, realize our shortcomings, ask for forgiveness and are given forgiveness that we get new strength – and an even greater responsibility to work for change.

_____________

Anders Wejryd, Archbishop emeritus, WCC-president for Europe.  Anders Wejryd served as Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of ACT member the Church of Sweden from 2006-14.

Churches pay witness to disasters whether human-induced or natural.   The shared mission of bringing the Good News of solidarity, service, compassion and love to those affected, regardless of their faith, is central to very existence of ACT Alliance and its members.  Devastation is not part of the calling of Churches. Ours is a calling to life and life at its fullest.

Churches have for years used their resources and social capital to build the resilience of communities, provide early action where necessary to avoid disasters. We stand at the frontline of service delivery where emergencies arise.

ACT Alliance engages in making sure that the community of nations and governments commit to risk prevention, risk reduction, preparedness and humanitarian action to ensure that we avoid loss of lives and assets in all their forms.  This is why ACT Alliance has been engaging in the processes leading up to the formulation of the Sendai Framework of Risk Reduction and its review process via the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction that will be held on 22-26 May 2017 in Cancun, Mexico.

We journey to Mexico not only to celebrate gains as we recognize the successes of partners in risk reduction work, but also to continue our advocacy because the work is not yet done.  In 2015, during the formulation of the Sendai Framework on DRR, ACT Alliance lobbied hard to ensure that nations committed to addressing vulnerabilities (i.e. inequalities, poverty among others) as these are left unaddressed.

Vulnerability is a key element that contributes to disaster risk along with hazards and exposure.  Sadly, vulnerabilities do not seem to be addressed effectively and efficiently. ACT Alliance, once again, calls on governments and other stakeholders to identify and address vulnerabilities by increasing investments (in all forms) in building resilience.  In the process, we also call on the various stakeholders to recognize the key role that faith-based organizations can play in risk prevention and reduction, preparedness and humanitarian action.

____________

Jessica Dator Bercilla works for ACT member Christian Aid

PRESS RELEASE

As two weeks of UN climate negotiations end in Bonn, international faith-based humanitarian and development network ACT Alliance sees signs of progress towards the implementation of the Paris agreement. However, progress is slow, and a number of difficult issues still remain to be resolved.

Despite threats of US withdrawal from the Paris agreement, the alliance is happy to see that many other governments engaged in the process to make climate transformation happen.

Speaking from Rajasthan, India, co-chair of the ACT alliance working group on climate change Dinesh Vyas said;

“The urgency to raise ambitions is acknowledged by all governments. In 2018 governments have agreed to take stock of progress under what is called a “facilitative dialogue”, It is crucial that this process becomes a participatory process rather than a one-time event”

Climate finance has been high on the agenda in Bonn as governments have gone deeper into detail in the negotiations over how to properly count and report on climate finance. Despite different, and in many cases opposing views, small steps were taken. Co-chair of the ACT Alliance working group on climate change, Martin Vogel, from Sweden, commented:

“We welcome progress towards establishing clear rules for what should count as climate finance and how to make sure that finance flows are reported in a transparent way ensuring that developed countries commitments to provide both development aid and climate finance are met. The lack of a clear definition for climate finance is a serious problem today and hurts countries that are most in need by leaving them without the necessary support.”

While agreeing on a clear set of rules for climate finance will be difficult to resolve, it is one of the most important matters in climate policy.

The Bonn session was also included discussions on the future of the Adaptation Fund and how it should serve the Paris agreement. ACT alliance co-chair, Martin Vogel, said:

“The issue of the Adaptation Fund should have been easy to solve by governments. Instead, discussions were lengthy and slow. This unfortunately took time away from many other important discussions that governments should have had, like how to increase and make sure that financial support for adaptation reach the communities that need it most”

Looking ahead, the next COP will be held in just 6 months, this time under Fijian presidency, but again taking place in Bonn. Dinesh Vyas said,

“We strongly believe the next COP should focus on addressing the impacts of climate change. We are convinced that urgent action to combat climate change needs to be urgently taken. As a development and humanitarian network we work closely with poor and vulnerable people who suffer the adverse effects of climate change. It is important to always keep the elements that are closest to these communities on the agenda.

ENDS

1. ACT Alliance is a coalition of 144 churches and faith-based organisations working together in over 100 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalised people regardless of their religion, politics, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality in keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information or and interview about this press release contact Isaiah Kipyegon Toroitich. Tel: +41 79 825 7899; Email: Isaiah.Toroitich@actalliance.org

When ACT members around the world reach out to poor and vulnerable communities, there is no doubt about the need for support. There is urgent need to strengthen their resilience, and to adapt to the effects of climate change. To make that happen there is a need for funding.

In the UN, rich and poor countries have an ongoing argument about these funds. Rich countries claim they have provided their support, while developing countries ask where it is. A new report, commissioned by the ACT member DanChurchAid, as well as CARE Denmark and Oxfam IBIS, dig directly in to this conflict. The result is worth considering. Lack of transparency and weak accounting practices are found to be the core of the problem.

Lack of clear definitions, and agreement about how to account and report on climate finance leads to misunderstandings, and lack of action. To get the full picture we need to take a step back and look at developed countries’ commitments to support developing countries.

The promise about Official Development Aid…

There are many development needs. The global Sustainable Development Goals outline 17 areas where international development cooperation must be mobilized. Developed countries have an old commitment to allocate 0,7% of their GDP as aid to developing countries. It should be noted, that unfortunately very few countries have delivered on this commitment, but formally the agreement still persists.

…and a new commitment about climate finance

However, in the early 1990s scientists highlighted the need for climate action, and explained how climate change causes additional problems for development. Consequently, it was agreed that developed countries should mobilize additional support to help developing countries to tackle these additional challenges. Later a target, to annually mobilize $100 billion USD from 2020 and beyond, was adopted.

Finance confusion

The report mentioned above highlights four key problems with the current practice used by developed countries to mobilize climate finance.

First, there is no agreement about where the money should come from, or how it should be spent. This explains a big part of the confusion, as rich and poor countries have different perspectives on climate finance.

Second, there is a lack of transparency, and developing countries may in fact receive climate finance which they are not aware of. The lack of transparency is also linked to the method of assessing whether projects should be classified as climate finance or not. With limited information, assessments become weak, and as a result, big programs with limited elements related to climate change may be misreported as climate finance.

Third, the current reporting approach is, to a large extent, based on a bottom up approach where projects on the ground are assessed and reported to the UN. While this is good, to promote greening of concrete activities, it will not help donors to deliver on their commitment to support both adaptation and mitigation, or to increase climate finance in general. To achieve these commitments, there is also a need for top-down, political guidance. The report points at the lack of balance and the risk for increased imbalance when more private finance, which is more likely to support mitigation, becomes part of the reporting.

Finally, and this is where the broader debate about development becomes relevant, the report highlights that most climate finance also is reported as development aid. This means that developed countries deliver on two of their international commitments at the same time, when they channel support to developing countries. Overall, negotiations about climate finance will thus not necessarily increase the support, but only promote greening and increased resilience of existing development aid.

UN Climate Negotiations in Bonn this week have a focus on how to count and report climate finance. As ACT delegation, we hope that negotiators will take this debate seriously. We need agreement about how to assist developing countries, and we must always remember that money and funding must be translated into actual support to people, families and communities. It is their future which is at stake!

_____

Mattias Söderberg, Senior advocacy advisor in DanChurchAid. Was elected co-chair for the ACT Alliance advisory group on climate change advocacy and was the acting head of the ACT delegations to UN climate talks from 2010 to 2015. Was co-chair of the ACT EU climate change working group from 2007 to 2009, and head of the ecumenical COP15 secretariat in 2009. Mattias is originally from Sweden, but live in Denmark.