On October 31st the United Nations climate change summit, COP26, was held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The two-week (10/31 – 11/12) has long been billed as a critical checkpoint in the global effort to limit the
planet’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times – a key threshold to avoid the most
devastating impacts of climate change.
Scientists have said in order to keep that goal in sight, drastic cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions, at least
a 45% overall reduction, need to be made this decade.
Some 20,000 delegates, and thousands more activists and advocates, are expected to attend COP26, which is
being hosted by the United Kingdom along with Italy. Count many Catholics – albeit no long the pope – and religious leaders and activists among them.
Catholics who will be in Glasgow say there are many reasons for people of faith to pay attention to the proceedings.
Reason # 1: Pope Francis cares (as do many faith leaders)
For more than two years, the Vatican has been preparing for COP26 and considering what contribution it could make to help ensure a successful summit. Pope Francis said he hoped the Glasgow summit “will lead to effective agreement in addressing the consequences of climate change. Now is the time to act, for we are already feeling the effects of prolonged inaction.
Reason # 2: Paris Agreement wasn’t the end, but a beginning
In 2015, nearly every nation on Earth adopted the Paris climate accord where for the first time all countries, not just the most industrialized ones, committed to reducing their greenhousegas emissions. But the Paris Agreement only put the overall goals on paper; it did not include specific measure of how to get there. Much of the time since 2015 has been spent crafting the rulebook that spells out what countries can, and cannot, count in determining their emissions reductions.
Reason # 3 Catholic social teaching is on the table, especially for the poor
Name a principle of Catholic social teaching – from the dignity of every person, to solidarity and workers’rights – and you will find it relates to the discussions at COP26, said Sr. Veronica Brand who represents the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, at the UN. “With the impact of climate change, we are talking about action on behalf of justice… We are talking about lives being threatened. We’re talking about livelihoods and the dignity of those who are most marginalized – the people who are suffering most from global warming and who have fewer resources to adapt and respond.
Reason # 4 The climate is not waiting for governments to agree
While world leaders and diplomats debate and hash out the details of the Paris Agreement, average global temperatures have continued to rise, with increasingly evident impacts. The six hottest years on record have occurred since 2015 when the Paris Agreement was reached and many parts of the world have been hit by extreme weather.
Reason # 5 The pandemic connection
Although COVID delayed the climate conference last year, many see the forced pause as an opportunity, especially for accelerating the global transition to clean energy necessary to achieve the 1.5 C target.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — Addressing the U.N. climate summit with his pen rather than in person, Pope Francis called on world leaders assembled here to demonstrate “political will” and stop deferring the action required to avert the worst catastrophes of climate change.”As the Glasgow Conference begins, all of us are aware that it has the vital task of demonstrating to the entire international community whether there really exists a political will to devote — with honesty, responsibility and courage — greater human, financial and technological resources to mitigating the negative effects of climate change and assisting the poorer and more vulnerable nations most affected by it,” Francis wrote in a message addressed to Alok Sharma, president of the U.N. climate conference known as COP26, which began Oct. 31.”Sadly, we must acknowledge how far we remain from achieving the goals set for tackling climate change,” the pope said. “We need to be honest: this cannot continue!”
The pope likened the “wounds” caused by climate change and the coronavirus pandemic to those inflicted by World War II. As in the post-war period, he said, a similar international response of collegial efforts and farsighted actions is required now.”We need both hope and courage,” he said. “Humanity possesses the wherewithal to effect this change, which calls for a genuine conversion, individual as well as communitarian, and a decisive will to set out on this path.”It is increasingly clear, the pope added, that “there is no time to waste.”
The pope in his message challenged diplomats at COP26 to construct a future where daily actions and economic decisions “genuinely protect” the conditions necessary for dignified human life and the health of the planet, now and into the future.He called on rich nations to take the lead in mobilizing funds to finance responses to climate change, decarbonizing the global economy and helping the most vulnerable countries and peoples to mitigate and adapt to global warming “and to respond to the loss and damage it has caused.”
He also urged countries to address the “ecological debt” between nations, including establishing procedures to forgive foreign debt of countries that have contributed the least to climate change but have faced the greatest tolls.
All too many of our brothers and sisters are suffering from this climate crisis,” Francis said, adding that it is not just an environmental crisis, but also a looming crisis of migration and children’s rights.”The young, who in recent years have strongly urged us to act, will only inherit the planet we choose to leave to them, based on the concrete choices we make today,” he said. “Now is the moment for decisions that can provide them with reasons for hope and trust in the future.””Now is the time to act, urgently, courageously and responsibly,” Francis said. “Not least, to prepare a future in which our human family will be in a position to care for itself and for the natural environment.”