COP27: to go, or not to go?

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While presidents and kings decide whether to go to COP27, or not, here are ways for Christians to get involved – in the Lord’s power we can raise the profile #COP27

There is much controversy surrounding key figures about whether they should be going, or not, to COP27, they include: King Charles (UK Government called on him not to go); the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (choosing not to go); and Greta Thunberg (who is making a statement by not going) as well as the fringe event organisations which may or may not have host venues available. Those going include Alok Sharma MP (President of COP26 in Glasgow) and Boris Johnson MP.
COP27 is happening in Egypt, and will run from 6 to 19 November.

For those left behind at home, Dave Bookless has recommended some ways to access COP27 and still have an impact. Dave is Director of Theology at A Rocha and at the Lausanne Global Catalyst for Creation Care.

1. Rebuild trust with climate-vulnerable nations by ensuring that there is full delivery of the promised $100 billion annually, including 50% for adaptation.

2. Strengthen transparency and accountability for climate finance.

3. Invest in good green jobs for youth, including through climate finance.

4. Legalise the status of climate refugees – giving them access to healthcare, work, and educational rights.

For potential Christian action in the UK, Louisa Lockwood, editor at Preach magazine, has added the following resources.

 ·       Green Christian: you can sign up for enews and prayer guides, join their membership, and donate online. On Saturday 5 November, at 5pm, if your church has bells, you can join the campaign Ring out for climate! https://greenchristian.org.uk/ring-out-for-climate/

·       Churches Together: have complied links to useful actions church leaders and churches can take, https://ctbi.org.uk/un-climate-change-conference-cop27/. These include:

1.     Global day of action on Saturday 12 November with UK-based Climate Justice Coalition https://climatejustice.uk/

2.     Webinar with A Rocha’s UK CEO, Andy Atkins and guests on Tuesday 15 November, 7-8pm, COP27: finding solutions to the climate crisis in nature. Plus A Rocha UK’s analysis of the conference so far. Register via Eventbrite.

3.     Email the Prime Minister to ‘stop the COP-out at COP27, via the CAFOD website, https://action.cafod.org.uk/page/113421/action/1

4.     Virtual walk event ‘walk2cop27’, is running here with the call to Walk, Talk, Act https://www.walk2cop27.com/

Preach resources
For preaching and Bible-based information about the climate crisis, please see the Creation Hope, Issue 26, of Preach magazine – a joint issue with A Rocha International in spring 2021. Contents include:
·       Preaching Creation’s Destiny by Chris Wright
·       Christian hope by Peter Harris
·       Interview Jasmine Kwong from OMF International
·       Creation care as mission by Dave Bookless
·       Climate Stewards by Caroline Pomeroy
·       Eco Church by Helen Stephens
·       Q&A with Simon Stuart by Justin Brierley
·       Plus book reviews and other creation care resources.

Creation Hope magazine is FREE online at joomag HERE
OR order a hard copy HERE for £6.95 inc p&p.
Listen to the Creation Hope webinar that took place during COP26, to get a flavour of what the COP is all about, find it on the Preach magazine YouTube channel HERE

Engage with COP27 in Egypt
Website: https://cop27.eg/#/vision
Twitter @COP27P and use #COP27
Facebook @COP27Egypt and use #COP27