World Communion of Reformed ChurchesMember Church News: COP21
We have joined our sisters and brothers in the World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance, the Council of European Churches and Our Voices to coordinate efforts and communications during the climate talks in Paris. Below are a few of the stories and resources coming from these important talks:
As the calendar moves into the season of Advent, a time of watching and waiting for the nativity of Christ, this week also brings a time of watching what takes place in Paris through Dec. 13 around climate. The United Nations Climate Change Convention Conference of the Parties 21st convening (COP21) is bringing together more than 30,000 participants — scientists, delegates and environmental groups, including people of faith who believe dealing with climate change is essential to human life — to hammer out a global agreement that curtails pollution.
A delegation of four representatives from the Christian Reformed Church in North America are attending the COP21 climate conference in Paris, France, as observers and to join with other Christian groups to provide a gospel witness to delegates at the conference. They are sending back reports. Here is one of them. And here is an article about the delegation.
To help introduce students from United Church of Christ Historic Black Colleges and Universities to the science, policy and advocacy of climate change issues, the denomination is supporting a delegation of five dozen students, faculty and community environmental justice leaders who will participate in a global discussion on climate change this week in Paris.
Faith leaders urge action at UN climate talks: Over 20 faith leaders, with youth, political and civil society representatives sat down for a unique lunch at COP21 at a table with knives and forks but no food, in a public demonstration of their hunger for climate justice.
Faith campaigners have presented a total of 1,780,528 signatures gathered worldwide calling for decisive action to curb global warming. The petitions were delivered to leaders of the United Nations COP 21 climate conference beginning its work in Paris.
“The political leaders of the world are speaking like preachers. May they continue as believers,” said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, as he attended the opening sessions of the UN climate talks.
The churches of Europe are involved in many activities related to COP21. CEC Study Secretary Peter Pavlovic has been blogging from COP21.
Additional COP21 resources: