Eco Comment – CBD COP 16

25 October 2024

I am quite regularly confused by things that I read and hear so seeing this acronym was no different really. I was trying to work out why we were thinking about COP 16 when the last one that I wrote about was COP 28. Did the numbering go backwards? Or had I missed something? The answer comes from the preceding three letters. CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) or United Nations Biodiversity Conference. Starting this weekend in Columbia under the theme #Peace with nature. This conference  has a quite different focus to that of COP 29 which starts in a couple of weeks in Baku, Azerbaijan. (I will be writing about this COP in another Eco Comment.) 

The CBD COP is significant to us at the cathedral because a Church of England bishop is leading an Anglican Communion delegation to the conference. The bishop in question is the Rt. Rev. Graham Usher, bishop of Norwich and the Anglican Communion’s lead on biodiversity, and includes youth and indigenous representation from three other continents — Nicholas Pande (environmental lead for the Anglican Communion team at the United Nations, Kenya), Michelle Cordova (official representative of the Anglican Communion Youth Network, El Salvador), Guilherme Gastal (representative of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil’s Climate Justice Working Group) and Elisiva Sunia (representative of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia, Tonga). 

With plant and animal species disappearing at an ever-faster rate, the aim of COP16 is for leaders and non-state actors to agree how to implement a joint action plan on biodiversity restoration. The gathering builds on the agreements made in December 2022, where more than 190 countries under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted an agreement to reverse nature loss by the year 2030. 23 global targets were set.’ (https://episcopalnewsservice.org/ 

I think that we are sometimes guilty of underestimating how far reaching the church is and how powerful it’s message can be. 

‘Under the banner of “choosing hope,” the report calls for joint action in five areas: reforestation initiatives (choose hope), peace and reconciliation work to protect people and the planet from the destruction of conflict (choose peace), recognizing the voices of indigenous people in restoring biodiversity (choose wisdom), just financing that funds action to reduce damage and inequality (choose justice) and encouraging whole society approaches to protecting nature as a source of wellbeing (choose wellbeing).’ 

The delegation is featuring some case studies demonstrating loss of biodiversity and the role of faith around the world. These include ‘the Anglican Church of Kenya, which has made tree growth and ecosystem stewardship a major part of their ministry. Tree planting is woven into significant church celebrations like weddings and baptisms, as well as their program of theological study and community action. It also features the work of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and the Franciscan Brothers in the Solomon Islands, where deforestation and logging have damaged coral reefs and fishing grounds. Through advocacy and campaigning, the Franciscans made recommendations to the U.N. Human Rights Council in 2021. Seven out of the nine recommendations were taken on by member states.’ 

‘Looking ahead to COP16, Usher said: “Biodiversity loss is one of the major environmental crises impacting our planet today. Whether it’s habitat destruction, pollution, the erosion of soils, or the impact of exploitation and conflict on natural resources, many Anglican churches around the world are serving communities directly impacted by issues which cause nature loss. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis, but at COP16 we want to speak words of hope. We will implore governments to work together in achieving a joint action plan – but we will also express our deep commitment as Anglicans in playing our part in global action.” 

The COP16 Calls report also shares invitations to Anglican churches to support biodiversity restoration, through initiatives like the Communion Forest or developing peace and reconciliation skills through the Difference Course. Alongside the Calls document, Usher also has written an extended reflection document that unpacks a theology to inform Anglican approaches to biodiversity loss called “All Creatures of our God and King.” An accompanying piece has been developed by Nicholas Pande, environmental lead for the Anglican Communion team at the U.N., called “The Challenge of Biodiversity Loss.” 

Martha Jarvis, the Anglican Communion’s permanent representative to the U.N., said: “Having an Anglican presence at summits like COP16 is an important opportunity to share Anglican voices and concerns about issues of biodiversity loss. But it goes beyond the summit. It’s also about ensuring that our attendance mobilizes ongoing advocacy and action. We pray that following COP16, Anglicans can play their part alongside government leaders in restoring God’s world.”’ 

I make no apology for using this article in an almost unedited form as it’s possibly something that we might not have read otherwise. I know that without the links to the A Rocha UK Facebook page and the diocesan emails I would miss so much useful information.  I conclude with this prayer which is part of some of the A Rocha resources about the conference (https://arocha.org/) 

A Prayer for the CBD 

Lord God,   

We pray for an end to the destruction of biodiversity and creation. We pray for the gifts of all God has made to be shared fairly, and to provide sustenance for communities and nations. We pray for just negotiations at the CBD, with courageous and wise outcomes. May obstructions to the process fail. May a vision of a world where nature flourishes be realised in our lifetimes.   

Susan Morgan
Eco Group

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