04/12/2024
The Anglican Communion delegation, which included Archbishop Julio Murray from Panama, called for negotiations at COP29 in Azerbaijan to prioritise peace, to listen to the wisdom of indigenous communities, and to work for justice, in particular for climate finance.
A statement from Bishop Graham Usher
COP29 has delivered some steps forward, including the $300 billion climate finance commitment by 2035, and the UK has shown positive leadership in signalling ambitious climate goals and fostering dialogue. Yet for those most vulnerable to climate disasters, this agreement will still feel insufficient.
This is a familiar story. Many individuals and nations work tirelessly for change, yet deeper forces of greed and apathy too often hold us back. To care for God’s creation as we are called to, we must move beyond self-interest and reimagine our approach to finance and resources, with a constant focus on what is sustainable.
We need to embrace the wisdom shared by faith traditions about sufficiency, caring for our neighbours, and living in harmony with creation.
My prayer is that all nations take this forward with courage, prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable and stepping up our shared commitment to protect the earth and its people as we look towards COP30 in Brazil.
A statement from Archbishop Julio Murray
Archbishop Julio led the Anglican delegation and commented as the talks were concluding:
As we watch the final stages of COP29 negotiations, we call on leaders to be bolder in working for climate finance that offers hope.
These are questions about life and justice.
It’s vital that we prioritise the lives of human beings at risk from climate disasters and achieve justice for the most vulnerable who have not caused the problems.
The current draft documents lack clarity and accountability. They do little to restore trust through generous financing and instead reflect wider divisions in our world. The voices of youth and indigenous peoples are lacking.
We pray for all negotiating, that they would see each other clearly and find new ways forward. And we pray that our God would enable all of us to move from greed to sufficiency, from despair to hope and from death to life.