October 31st - November 12th 2021
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) took place in Glasgow, October 31st - November 12th 2021. COP 26 brought together over 30 000 people, including world leaders, academics, international organisations, businesses, faith groups and citizen activists in the world's most important climate meeting.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa meets the group Climate Pilgrims who took part in a Climate Pilgrimage from the Vatican to Katowice, led by Catholic activist and former negotiator Yeb Saño. Pilgrims on the journey have carried beautiful prayer ribbons from Rome and presented those ribbons to Patricia. Photo by UNclimatechange is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The United Nations warned in October 2021, ahead of COP 26, that the worldwide community was not on target to limit global warming to enable people everywhere to live with dignity, protect lives and contribute to global peace. Climate change will continue to impact lives everywhere, particularly those in the most vulnerable situations. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, attended COP 26 on behalf of Pope Francis. Cardinal Parolin delivered the pontiff's message stating, the goals of the Paris Agreement of 2015 to limit global warming by creating sustainable, decarbonised economies 'can no longer be deferred.' In his recent paper 'COP 26 in Glasgow and the Perils of Climate Change', Columban Fr Sean McDonagh also highlights the global community's duty to move quickly. The international General Council of the Missionary Society of St Columban issued a COP 26 message urging ambitious action at the climate meeting.
Columban Missionaries are committed to ongoing efforts across the works of the Society and supported the Climate Pilgrims who walked hundreds of miles to raise awareness on their way to COP 26. Columbans from the region of Britain attended COP 26, provided regular news updates and co-led a '24 hours for the Climate' public vigil from Glasgow.
Columbans worldwide contributed to the prayer event and attended virtually with their network partners. The Columban Mission Centre in Essendon also participated in the global multi-faith 'Faith 4 Climate Justice' action and displayed the 'Protect Creation - Bold Climate Action by 2030 Starting Now' banner. The Peace, Ecology and Justice Team at the Mission Centre led a prayer for COP 26 in solidarity with all who were advocating for climate justice at the meeting.
Throughout 2021 many areas of Australia have reported extreme weather events, including severe storms and rainfall in Eastern and Central Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology reported in June 2021 that Australia's long-term trend is that as the climate continues to warm, more extreme weather is predicted to continue, along with an increase in extreme fire weather and the length of fire season. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who recognise the sacred duty to protect all creation are taking leading action to advocate for the protection of Country, culture and communities and invite support. Torres Strait Islanders are taking legal action to have their case heard. Torres Strait Islanders and Pacific Island nation communities, including Fiji where Columbans live and work, are already experiencing severe impacts from climate change and are at grave risk of further rising sea levels.
Leaders across many sections of society continue to urge sustainable development to lead the Covid-19 economic and social recovery. Business leaders globally are taking their part in leading change in areas including renewable energies, sustainable agriculture and the restoration of natural ecosystems. These initiatives help to grow opportunities for communities and need more support. Delaying commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions puts more pressure on the window of time necessary for businesses and communities to adapt. There are also economic benefits to be gained from increasing action now. Countries that are economically poor will also need significant financial supports to adapt and respond to many unfolding tragedies.
Developing deeper awareness about humanities place as part to the web of life, rather than over and above Earth's living systems is a necessary step. People of faith have a solid foundation to remind us of our belonging to all God's creation. Columban Regional Director of Oceania, Fr Trevor Trotter spoke in his article of May 12th about this belonging. Fr Trevor stated: "We are interconnected to all human beings, to the whole of creation and God. If we learn how to live these relationships we have learnt a lot. I remember one of my philosophy teachers saying that the purpose of our lives was to live more consciously the relationships that we are born into. This sounds simple, but as we think about it, we start to realise how profound an agenda this is for our lives. It is great advice for living."
The first United Nations climate change report was produced in 1988 by the intergovernmental panel that assesses scientific reports on climate change. The climate change reports are comprehensive assessments of multiple data sources for the global community. In an interview with Green Christian on November 3rd whilst at COP 26, Columban co-worker Ellen Teague from Britain stated that long before this report was released Columban Missionaries could see the impact of climate change and deforestation on local communities. From their experience, Columbans urged the international community not to wait for technological solutions to climate change and led to key areas of action within the Church. Our current times continue to offer great challenges and opportunities for all. After COP 26 combined efforts need to continue to further God's mission to help peace and justice to flourish, in this vital time in planetary history.
Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM
Peace, Ecology and Justice Team member
Columban Mission Centre, Essendon
james wood:
Nov 10, 2021 at 01:46 PM
the Glasgow conference was just an excuse for the privileged to get on stage and tell us, the common people, how good they are. They want us to subside their ego and pay for their out of control living. Thinks of all the CO2 that was produced by the privileged few flying in on their private jets. What a sham.