Justice Matters:   Desperate Hope

David Attenborough addressed COP 26 saying that over his life he had witnessed a terrible decline in climate health and diversity.  But, he continued, looking at younger members of the conference, “you should in yours experience a wonderful recovery.” This, he said, is  our “desperate hope”.  This phrase gives a sense of where we humans are. Able  to want the best but act in a way that prevents that being achieved.  We know that we are stronger together but stubbornly pursue the politics of individual gain.   COP 27 opens upon this contradictory scene.

SEE:  Richer countries have caused the vast majority of climate disruption.  UN Secretary General, António Guterres  says how they compensate developing countries for the economic losses and physical damage is the “number one litmus test” of the negotiations.   The COP 27 opening was delayed after deadlock over how to deal with the subject in the conference agenda. Developing countries  managed to get it on to the agenda and the COP 27 president Shoukry said "This creates for the first time ….. space on the formal agenda of COP and the Paris Agreement to discuss the pressing issue of funding arrangements needed to deal with existing gaps, responding to loss and damage.”  Climate summit desperate and delayed.  Unfortunately these discussions will not involve liability or binding compensation but they are meant to lead to a decision by 2024. Why is it so  important?  A report on the 20 most vulnerable countries finds that “damage to date has already reduced their cumulative growth by one-fifth... The group, numbering 58 countries including Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and other Pacific nations, number 1.4 billion people and they generate US$2.4 trillion of GDP. But they cause only 5 percent of global emissions.” Climate Vulnerable Economies Loss Report.  The UK missed its deadline to pay an agreed $300m to countries hit hardest by the climate crisis. The global south has been plagued by climate-induced disasters..... India, for example, has witnessed a climate induced disaster almost every day so far this year.

REFLECT:   “To speak of hope to those who are desperate, it is essential to share their desperation. To dry the tears from the faces of those who are suffering, it is necessary to join our tears with theirs”. Pope Francis.  If we did this, how would it be possible to ignore the suffering of those in the world so vulnerable to climate ?

ACT: Another quote by Pope Francis is “Prayer leads us forward in hope. Praying is always an act and will guide us as we work out how, where, when or what to do."   

There are many groups which give voice to our concerns and fears for the climate.  Perhaps check out  Greenpeace, the Woodland Trust,  Avaaz among others.  More locally there is  Climate Fringe: The Home of Climate Events in Scotland or Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. CAFOD and Oxfam emphasise the  fact that the climate disruption is an emergency made up of social and climate injustice.  

The cluster eco- circle continues to run on Tuesday at 5.30pm for 40 minutes.  You would be very welcome.

Tricia Kaminski