Between 10-21 November, representatives of 190 countries will meet in Belem, Brazil, in the Amazonian rainforest, for the United Nations 30th conference of the Parties (COP30) on Climate Change.
It comes at a key time for the protection and preservation of God’s creation, as climate change and the extreme weather events it intensifies, continues apace, yet the world’s efforts, to date, are critically insufficient to keep global warming to a level that is safe for humans and the rest of God’s creation.
All countries are scheduled to provide, before the conference, improved pledges to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, yet few have so far done so. As well as new pledges, the conference will focus on strengthening implementation of existing ones, adapting to changes that are already baked in, and protecting tropical forests.
This latter aim ties in with the call the Anglican Communion representatives, including Bishop Graham Usher, will bring to COP30, to protect the “lungs of the earth” – oceans, forests and frozen landscapes.
On the midst of pushback on climate action by vested interests and some governments, prayer for the success of COP30 and beyond is all the more important. You may wish to use or adapt the prayer for COP30 that appears in this month’s CofEB Praying Together, set out below.
Lord, we pray for the representatives of 190 countries due to meet between 10-21 November for COP 30 in Belem, Brazil, near the mouth of the Amazon, and for the Anglican Communion representatives as they bring the call to the conference to protect the "lungs of the earth" - oceans, forests and frozen landscapes.
Guide the delegates from government, business and civil society to vigorously and honestly take action; in particular respecting the rights and wisdom of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin and beyond, including those from our companion diocese, Bolivia.
Amen