Belém, a megacity of 1.5 million inhabitants on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, in the heart of one of the world’s leading oil-producing countries… This is the setting that will host the 30th COP, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
There are many paradoxes, but even more hopes, for this new summit, which will bring together nearly 200 countries and other parties from 10 to 21 November.
Alongside participants with voting rights, the COP is also an opportunity for hundreds of organisations, NGOs, collectives, etc. to come together to observe, lobby and report on the debates. Among these observer members, A Rocha International will be present with a delegation from various national delegations. For A Rocha, participating in this type of event ‘is both an opportunity to put forward our point of view and to draw inspiration from others, thereby renewing our commitment to A Rocha’s mission and vision,’ as described by Nicholas Warren, who attended last month’s IUCN summit on behalf of A Rocha International.
The main objective will therefore be to bear witness, as Christians, to the importance of this battle and to the solutions already implemented by numerous initiatives around the world. It is also about being present to join forces and hopes with other Christians – and non-Christians – engaged in this struggle, and finally to help inform, interpret and relay progress made during the meetings.
A Rocha's Statement on Climate Change
If A Rocha was present at the last IUCN congress last month and will be there again as an observer at COP 30, it’s because, for our organisation, the fight against climate change and the fight against the collapse of biodiversity are intimately linked, and two sides of the same battle that cannot be separated.
A Rocha International is currently working on a Climate Declaration, an official text setting out A Rocha’s position on climate change issues, which will be published very shortly.
Climate justice at the forefront
Alongside the goals set at COP30 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or limit deforestation, the goal of working to reduce climate injustice is particularly relevant. To achieve this goal, A Rocha France and SEL are once again working together on their joint campaign: ‘Loving the poorest also means protecting creation’.
A Rocha and SEL have also jointly commissioned a journalist to follow and report regularly on the progress of discussions at COP.
What can be done from here?
Brazil is far away! However, it is possible to get involved in this event on our own scale, from here.
How?
In several ways:
- Take part in the day organised jointly by A Rocha and SEL in Lyon on 15 November: information here, and registration here.
- Take part in a Circle of Silence near your home.
- Follow the COP news from a Christian perspective, thanks to articles by Camille Westphal-Perrier.
- Persevere in choosing a lifestyle that is more respectful of living things.
- Pray!