Weekly Action - 5 June 2023 - UN Climate Talks
UN climate talks
This week the latest round of UN climate change talks began in Bonn, Germany, due to run from 5 – 15 June. These inter-sessional talks happen each summer to prepare the ground for the better-known UN climate COP conferences that happen each winter. The stakes couldn’t be higher in this latest round of talks. In recent years the impacts of climate change have included heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, wildfires, landslides, massive polar melting, the melting of the world’s glaciers, sea-level rise, the devastation of coral systems, mass food and fresh water shortages, ill health, huge negative economic impacts, conflicts over scarce resources, the creation of huge numbers of climate refugees, and much more.
In the past 9 months alone, we have seen a massive and tragic food crisis in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, record temperatures in the UK and Europe, and devastating floods in Pakistan, New Zealand, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all as a result of global climate change. It is developing countries like DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Pakistan, whose greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction of those of more developed nations, that have done the least to cause climate change, but are now being hit first and hardest by a changing climate. This is devastating the lives of ordinary people like Gentille Ndagijimana, who the BBC interviewed after the recent tragic climate floods in DR Congo, “I don't have any more relatives, and I don't have a farm, I have nothing. I must look for a place to sleep. I am only left with my husband. But all out children are dead” she said.
After many years of negotiation, the governments of the world reached the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015. This committed them to limit global average temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. (1.5 degrees is the level the world’s scientists agree we must stay below to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.) Since then the talks have focused on making the progress needed to achieve that goal. In essence this comes down to two things: cuts in the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, and finance.
Each nation has set out the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions it intends to make, and these have become more ambitious over time through negotiation. But this is very hard for the world’s developing countries, who have witnessed rich countries develop their nations through fossil fuel energy and overconsumption of natural resources, and are now being told they cannot do the same, and must instead develop through renewable energy and green economies. They are willing to do this, but need support. Therefore, the talks also focus on agreeing finance from developed countries to help developing countries get off fossil fuels and onto clean renewable energy. This finance is also crucial to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change they are already experiencing, and to compensate them for the loss and damage that has already occurred in their nations, as a result of the greenhouse gasses rich nations have burnt over decades.
As Christians what should we do about it?
As Christians we know we are called both to care for God’s amazing creation, and to love our neighbours, especially the most vulnerable. We read in Genesis how humanity was instructed both to work God’s creation and to “take care of it” (Gen 2: 15). Later the book of Proverbs tells us “The righteous care about justice for the poor” (Prov 29: 7). We therefore need to meet immediate urgent needs for those like Gentille whose lives have already been devastated by climate change. And we also need to tackle the long-term underlying causes, and urgently get out of fossil fuels which are driving global climate change, and instead shift to 100% clean renewable energy, which does not lead to climate change, and is cheaper as well.
Arise’s 4 Shifts Campaign calls for a rewiring of our global economy to be green and fair, so it still creates the jobs and wealth that lift people out of poverty, but does so without relying on fossil fuels and overconsumption which is wrecking our planet. As part of that campaign we need to transition as rapidly as possible to 100% clean renewable energy, whilst also supporting countries like DR Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Pakistan who are already feeling the impacts of climate change right now.
Will you take action as part of Arise’s 4 Shifts campaign this week, to meet the immediate needs of people like Gentille being impacted by climate change and to shift to a clean energy economy?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Write to your MP in your own words asking them to take urgent action to:
1. Urge the government to bring forward and strengthen the UK’s plans to transition out of fossil fuels, so that we shift to zero emissions and 100% clean renewable energy, and ban the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Implement this in every sector (energy, transport, buildings, industry etc.)
2. Meet immediate needs of communities in developing countries who are being impacted by climate change, by urging the government to significantly increasing the UK’s contribution to the $100 billion in climate finance long promised to the world’s poorest nations.
Find your MP, and their contact details here
Pray
Pray for the people around the world who are currently being hit by the impacts of climate change. Pray for protection, that their basic needs will be met, and for rebuilding and adapting their societies to adjust to a changing climate. Pray for action from the UK and other governments to rapidly shift their economies out of fossil fuels and into 100% clean renewable energy. Pray for radical and dramatic progress at the Bonn climate change talks.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like Christian Aid, Cafod, Tearfund or World Vision who are supporting the poorest communities impacted by climate change around the world.
Practical Action
Reduce your own energy use by using cars less, and walking, cycling or using public transport more. If you fly, consider reducing or ending entirely the number of flights you take, and holidaying at home, not abroad.
Ethical Consumption
Speed the shift to a 100% clean energy economy by switching you electricity provider to a renewable energy company like Ecotricity or Good Energy.
Encourage us and others by letting us know what actions you have taken – message us at info@ariseuk.org, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Find out more
It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested in joining or starting a local Arise group in your church or area. If you are already in an Arise group, take this action to your wider church, and get them all to do it too.
Find out more about why the world needs 4 Shifts to transition to a green and fair global economy in Arise’s 4 Shifts Report, and how this forms part of God’s bigger vision for our world in the Arise Manifesto.
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