Your guide to COP27
This month’s blog post explains everything you need to know about COP27. It ends with some prayer resources.
What is COP27?
UN climate summits are held every year, they are referred to as COPs, which stands for "Conference of the Parties". The parties are the attending countries that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992.
COP27 is the 27th annual UN meeting on climate. It will take place in Egypt from 6 to 18 November.
What's on the agenda?
COP27 will focus on three main areas:
- Reducing emissions
- Helping countries to prepare for and deal with climate change
- Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the above
Some areas not fully resolved or covered at COP26 will be picked up:
- Loss and damage finance - money to help countries recover from the effects of climate change, rather than just prepare for it. This is the focus of a major campaign from Christian Aid.
- Establishment of a global carbon market - you can find out more about carbon markets on the United Nations Development Programme website.
- Strengthen the commitments to reduce coal use
There will also be themed days on issues including gender, agriculture and biodiversity.
Who will be attending?
More than 200 governments have been invited. Environmental charities, community groups, think tanks, businesses and faith groups will also take part.
How can I pray for COP27?
A number of Christian organisations have produced prayer guides to help. Here we highlight two.
Tearfund - Pray for the UK Government and COP27
- Pray for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, that the Lord would bless and guide him in his new role. Pray that the new leaders in the Cabinet will make decisions for the long-term benefit of all.
- Pray for strong leadership and integrity in the UK Government in the lead up to and at COP27 from 6 November. Pray they would turn words to action and deliver on their promises of climate finance to low-income countries.
- Praise God for the hundreds of supporters who took our Send a Coin action to remind the former Prime Minister Liz Truss of the overdue climate finance bill. Ask that the new UK Government will be moved by this powerful endorsement from the public.
- Pray for the church in the UK, for the thousands of Christians who continue to use their voice to speak up for climate justice and for those joining the marches on Saturday 12 November – that they would be encouraged, and that their calls would be heard by the decision-makers and leaders.
JRI / BUEN - Dr Dave Gregory convener of BUEN (the Baptist Union Environment Network) and JRI chair shares his thoughts in the run up to COP27 with prayer points from Dr Mike Morecroft JRI chair and IPCC (UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) lead author.
