Climate hope – if promises are kept, say evangelicals

Even as it opened, the UN Climate Change Conference COP 28 was making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The BBC revealed claims that hosts, the United Arab Emirates, were planning to make oil and gas deals with 15 other countries at the event. Despite that, many Christian groups were represented there, some as part of the Christian Climate Observers Program, a non-denominational Christian presence advocating for God’s creation. All are, perhaps, encouraged by the fact that COP28 for the first time featured a ‘faith pavilion’. Evangelicals Now spoke to four leading Christian environmental organisations about their hopes and fears for the conference.

Jim Stump of Biologos, which seeks to reconcile faith and science, said: ‘Climate change is no longer an abstract possibility but a present reality for much of the world’s population. We believe that Jesus is on the side of the poor and vulnerable who suffer most and are least responsible for climate change, and as followers of Christ we stand with them. I [have been joining] with other Christians at COP28 to advocate for justice and responsible action by individuals, governments, and corporations.’

Dave Gregory is Baptist Missioner for Science and Environment. A former climate scientist, he leads the Baptist Union Environment Network (BUEN). He commented: ‘We are already seeing climate change-related extreme weather events impact many nations. These have greater impact in the developing world, which has fewer resources to respond. At last year’s COP in Egypt, a Loss and Damage Fund was agreed to support these nations. Yet arguments continue as to how this will be funded.’

Jean-François Mouhot, Director of A Rocha, said: ‘How can we reduce poverty without worsening the environmental crisis? The poorest suffer disproportionately from the consequences of global warming even though they are the least responsible for it, because they emit the least greenhouse gases, unlike the richest countries.

‘Our local partners in those countries are alerting us to the consequences of this crisis, which is also compromising many efforts being made to reduce the poverty affecting millions of people. Commitments have been made … before, notably at COP27, but implementation remains difficult.

Solutions require money

‘Communities in some of the poorest parts of the world are already adapting to be able to thrive in an unpredictable climate. The solutions exist. The money must follow. It’s time for wealthy nations to stump up the cash owed and keep their word.

‘The communities that did the least to cause the crisis have the fewest resources to respond to it. The most climate-vulnerable nations are being forced to divert money away from crucial public services, such as healthcare and schooling, to protect themselves against climate impacts. Wealthy nations have a responsibility to help communities adapt to a crisis they didn’t cause. It’s time to foot the bill, starting with delivering the promised doubling of finance for adaptation. Inaction is only running up the tab.’