pollution, reduce deforestation, and obligation. It is a lifeline. And in order tion. He urged them: “Never give up. move away from coal. Finance for to do that, fossil fuels must be kept in Never retreat. Keep pushing forward.” adaptation for those countries least the ground. So, Mr. President, let’s At times, I admit to feeling overequipped to address climate impacts keep them in the ground.” whelmed by the daunting challenges emerged as a critical issue. This is in The COP is an ongoing process of in- we face. At those times, I would repart because developed countries ternational negotiation. I have sym- call the words of The Rt. Rev. Marc have yet to live up to preAndrus, Episcopal Bishop vious COP pledges of $100 of California and the leader “I’VE BEEN TO MY SHARE OF billion annually in support of our delegation, who comto developing countries. At SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCES. ments, “I am hopeful not COP26 there was a call for NEVER HAVE I BEEN SO MOVED because of the headline anstrengthening the process nouncements, but because for bringing public and AND MOTIVATED BY WHAT I of this great delegation, private funds to bear on which has joined ecumenSAW AT COP26.” adaptation finance. Sever—Dr. Lisa Graumlich ical, interfaith and civil soal financial consortia each ciety allies in calling for jusmade trillion dollar plus pathy for those who see it as a terri- tice. We strive for the more excellent pledges of support. ble process, but, for the moment, it’s way, the way of faith, hope and love, BUT IT’S NOT REALLY OVER: TIME FOR ACTION Climate scientists like myself, along with legal experts and activists, have argued that the COP26 final deal resulted in incremental progress inadequate to fully address the climate crisis. The frustration was echoed by young leaders, notably Chief Negotiator for Panama Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez speaking for Panama at the final plenary session: “1.5 degrees is not a choice. It is a necessity. It is a moral
the only one we have. In Paris in 2015, the COP made a significant shift in strategies—from a (unenforceable) top-down model to limit total global emissions, to an agreement in which each nation sets its own ambitious voluntary targets (i.e., “National Determined Contributions” or NDCs). This is a tricky area for policy because the NDCs are non-binding national plans subject to approval by each nation’s government. This was a huge step. However, as we have seen in our nation’s capital, there is a gap between our highest aspirations and our ability to pass legislation that will move us toward the 1.5 degree goal. My own hope for progress comes from the proliferation of climate action plans at state and local levels that are setting aggressive goals and following through with investments in infrastructure and incentives.
and our hope is well founded, for love never fails.”
The push to move forward faster is propelled by youth and young adults. I urge you to read the blog post written by Ms. Solveigh Barney, a student at Macalester College, for the website of the Creation Care ministries of the Episcopal Church.1 She concludes: “I am afraid to witness the catastrophic events of the future if we don’t act now…. I know this is a dire narrative, but young people are frustrated. We wish people could just realize that our planet and very existence are at a breaking point. But not all of us have lost hope. We keep on fighting, for this is not the end, but it is the beginning.”
I share Solveigh’s urgency. I look forward to our ongoing conversations As people of faith we are called to join about how we at Saint Mark’s are what U.N. Secretary-General António called to action to achieve the ambiGuterres referred to in his closing re- tious but achievable goal of stabilizing marks as the “climate action army.” the climate crisis. ◆ Guterres acknowledged the power of activists to propel governments and companies beyond words and into ac- 1. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ecojustice/ at-a-breaking-point-a-youth-perspective-oncrisis-and-hope-at-cop26/
Photo by Kelly Lundquist
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