COP30: Country commitments "must meet the urgency"

Lorna Gold and Pope Leo with melting iceberg at recent Laudato si conference in Castel Gandolfo

With the devastating news that human society has failed to limit global warming to 1.5C, Church groups are hoping for an urgent and constructive dialogue at the annual UN Climate Conference COP30 in Brazil. Running 10-21 November, it aims to save the future of our planet and the people that catastrophic consequences of the climate emergency will affect - and are already affecting. The people of the Philippines and Jamaica, suffering the devastation of severe hurricanes this past week, are among the latest victims.

Since COP26 took place in Glasgow in 2021, the world is a very different place. There has been destabilisation of global order and needless bloodshed through war in Gaza and Ukraine, and around the world. Leading politicians have denied the reality of climate change and undermined urgent action.

However, the late Pope Francis and now Pope Leo call on us to be 'Pilgrims of Hope'.

In his 2023 Apostolic Exhortation 'Laudate Deum' - following up to 'Laudato Si' - Pope Francis stressed that, "droughts and floods, the dried-up lakes, communities swept away by flooding," have their origin in the climate crisis. He called for significant action at the COP process, particularly an energy transition away from polluting fossil fuels. He told countries that international negotiations cannot make significant progress if any of them "place their national interests above the global common good."

Last month, Pope Leo criticised those who minimise the "increasingly evident" impact of rising temperatures in his first major statement on climate change. Speaking at a Castel Gandolfo conference to mark 10 years since the publication of Laudato Si', he said, "citizens need to take an active role in political decisions, as only then will it be possible to mitigate the damage done to the environment."

So, what can we do here in Britain to support Brazil's COP30 conference?

Events:

10 November 1pm
Glasgow: St Andrew's Cathedral
A Mass on the opening day of COP30 and praying for its success, celebrated by Archbishop William Nolan of Glasgow. Tea will be served afterwards with a live update from Ben Wilson of SCIAF at COP30.

15 November Day of Action for COP30
11am - Glasgow Green start point in Glasgow for Scotland's Climate March.

www.globaljustice.org.uk/event/scotlands-climate-march-a-better-world-is-possible/

Global Day of Action in Manchester: CAFOD is inviting supporters to join them there.

Noon - Gathering to pray for the climate with Bishop John Arnold of Salford, receiving a message from CAFOD's COP partners, and hot drinks available.

1.30pm - assemble at All Saints Park.

2pm - together, march to join the rally at St Peter's at 3.30pm.
https://cafod.org.uk/news/events/global-day-of-action-for-climate-justice

Noon - London gathering in Whitehall: https://climatejustice.uk/cop30/global-day-of-action/

LINKS

The Jesuits have produced a 'Faith in Action Prayer Guide' for the COP30 Climate Conference. It is a spiritual resource designed to accompany the global call for climate justice through prayer and reflection.

https://jesuitmissions.org.uk/get-ready-for-cop30-with-the-jesuits-for-climate-justice-prayer-guide/

Jesuits will be providing daily updates fro m COP30 at: www.ecojesuit.com/daily-newsletter-for-cop30/

CAFOD campaigning action for COP30: https://cafod.org.uk/campaign

Climate Crisis Film Festival - 21-30 November
https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/our-shared-futures-climate-migration-film-festival/