Jesuit Missions' Bonn climate conference report: some progress, but much more needs to be done

Catholic participants at Bonn SB62

Source: Jesuit Missions

Concerns continue to be raised about the lack of support offered to countries in the Global South to help them tackle climate change, following two weeks of climate negotiations in Bonn.

This year's preparatory meeting (SB62) for the 30th United Nations' Climate Change Conference (COP30) left a series of questions unanswered, including around financial packages for poorer countries impacted by extreme weather patterns.

However, there was some progress made on plans for a socially just transition towards greener energy, with the hope that this momentum can be maintained at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November.

Richard Solly, Campaigns and Advocacy Officer at Jesuit Missions who attended the conference in Germany, said it is clear much more needs to be done to secure genuine climate justice for poorer countries, accusing richer nations of "blocking" this process.

But he welcomed the work of campaigners in moving the conversation around a just energy transition and praised the number of faith groups working together on climate issues.

Jesuit Missions has consistently raised awareness of the devastating impact climate change can have on several of its Jesuit partner organisations in the Global South.

It continues to engage in the annual COPs (Conference of the Parties), including financially supporting one of its partner organisations, the Centre Arrupe Madagascar, at last year's summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This year, it is once again involved in the Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign, working with other Jesuit organisations across the world, including the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat in Rome, Jesuit European Social Centre in Brussels, and Jesuítas Brasil, calling on global leaders to take quick and decisive action on the environment.

Richard Solly said: "At the SB62 climate talks in Bonn, I saw richer countries continue to block discussion of their obligation under the Paris Agreement to provide funds for poorer countries to deal with climate change.

"The bright spot in these talks was that climate campaigners and representatives of workers, Indigenous Peoples and the Global South have forced the rich countries to start serious discussion of a Just Transition away from fossil fuels, one that will not throw fossil fuel workers on to the scrap heap or wreck other communities by expanded mining of so-called 'green' minerals.

"It was also good to see many Catholic organisations, including Jesuits, coming together in Bonn to call for climate justice."

Stephen Power SJ, Chairman of the Jesuit Missions' Management Board, said: "The meeting in Bonn organised by the UN Climate Change body (UNFCCC) is an important step to prepare for the Conference of Parties (COP) meeting in Belém, Brazil.

"The COP in November is perhaps the most important one since COP21 set up the Paris agreements, where the need to keep the world on track for a less than 1.5C degree change was first projected. Now, we are reaching a make-or-break point for keeping in any way close to that target.

"There is also the drive to fund adequately poorer countries to manage the transition of all of us to a sustainable world. We, as a global society, are way 'behind the curve' of doing what is needed.

"Fortunately, hope is sustained by all of us working for as much progress on climate friendly policies as possible. The Bonn meeting was part of that work."

Jesuit Missions is the international mission and development organisation of the Jesuits in Britain. For more than 60 years, it has supported vulnerable communities in the Global South. It engages in projects in multiple countries and regularly works with schools and parishes in the UK. Jesuits in Britain CIO. Registered Charity Numbers: 1207742 (England and Wales) and SC053495 (Scotland).

For more detail on the outcomes of the SB62 conference, visit: https://enb.iisd.org/bonn-climate-change-conference-sb62-sbi62-sbsta62-summary

For more information about the Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign, visit: www.ecojesuit.com/jesuits-for-climate-justice-faith-in-action-at-cop30