The Anglican Communion will have a presence at COP28 – articulating Hope, Justice, and a Voice for the Vulnerable, calling for a just transition, resilience building in vulnerable communities, and just financing in response to climate change. The Anglican Communion also wants to mobilise more people across the world’s third largest Christian community to take action and promote its calls to their respective governments.

“We have a responsibility to those who are suffering to make sure something changes. Religious leaders listen to the voice of young people around the world telling us ‘You can do more!’,” said Archbishop Julio Murray, Bishop of Panama and the Anglican Communion’s Lead on climate change.

As world leaders converge in Dubai for the largest climate change negotiations, the Anglican Communion calls for:

• A Just Transition: commitments to COP28 to phasing-out fossil fuels, fastest in the highest polluting countries, ensuring dialogue with affected sectors and overcoming barriers to transitions in emerging markets
• Resilience building in vulnerable communities: double funding for adaptation, working strategically with faith groups already in vulnerable communities and making sure women, youth and indigenous people are at the table
• Just Financing: countries that have done little to cause climate change should not have to pay for the damage it causes or the changes we need to limit it. This requires immediate action (payment into the loss & damage fund agreed at COP27) and long-term change (reforming financial systems driving debt and inequality).

The Communion also calls Anglican churches to support outcomes of COP28, locally and globally.

Download the report Anglicans are taking to COP28:  ‘Hope, Justice and a Voice for the Vulnerable – A call to Climate Action’

In a video message to the Global Leaders Faith Summit, which met in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “Faith leaders represent the majority of people across the world, from both developed and developing countries. We can demonstrate to world leaders that people of faith want to see, and are willing to support change. We can lead by example and let world leaders know they have a mandate for bold, ambitious decision-making at COP28.”

The Anglican Communion has permanent representation at the United Nations, raising the Church’s voice on issues of justice, conflict, care of creation and more throughout the year. At major events like COP, a small group from the Communion join together to strengthen its advocacy and action. This group is decided collaboratively with hosts, the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, the Anglican Communion Environment Network, the Anglican Indigenous Network, the Anglican Youth Network and the Anglican Alliance.

This year’s delegation includes:

• Archbishop Julio Murray – Bishop of Panama and the Anglican Communion’s lead on climate change
• Archbishop Hosam Naoum – Archbishop of Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
• Agnes Lam – Co-chair of the Anglican Communion Youth Network’s 5th Mark of Mission Committee (based in Hong Kong)
• Nicholas Pande – Anglican Alliance Disaster Resilience and Response Lead and UN Environment Policy Lead (based in Nairobi Kenya)

They will be supported by Martha Jarvis, the Anglican Communion’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; Joel Kelling, Regional Facilitator for the Anglican Alliance; Revd Canon Dr Don Binder, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East.

During COP28 they will meet with representatives of states, businesses, investors, NGOs and faith groups to share the calls to action and listen to where change is possible. “We will pray and worship with other Christians gathered for COP and from across the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. We will host a series of events exploring why our calls to action matter, sharing examples of Anglican action from around the world,” said Martha Jarvis, the Anglican Communion’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

She continued: “We are particularly grateful to be hosted by the Archbishop of Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, Hosam Naoum. With global attention on the situation in the Holy Land, it will be powerful to account with him for the links between conflict and climate change, and how the Church can be a voice of justice and reconciliation in our international politics.”

The Anglican Communion will also host panel discussions about justice with top business leaders; dialogue with indigenous leaders; gatherings with young adults to hear their concerns; and conversations between faith leaders on the day’s ‘hot topics’.

The timetable of Anglican activities at COP28

The Anglican delegation will be based at the Faith Pavillion in the COP28 blue zone.

• Thursday 30th November: Anglican leaders will join with other faith leaders for a ‘Talanoa Dialogue’ on the opening day of COP, using a Fijian Indigenous Peoples approach to honest, open conversation about key issues in the climate change debate.
•  Saturday 2nd December: Archbishop Hosam will participate in an Ecumenical Service organised by the World Council of Churches at Christ Church Jebel Ali, Dubai.
• Tuesday 5th December: Archbishop Julio will speak on a panel that brings together top business leaders and investors to discuss the morals and markets forces behind responding justly to climate change. The session is cohosted by the Anglican Communion and the Council for Inclusive Capitalism.
• Tuesday 5th December: Archbishop Julio will host a dialogue in Spanish with fellow Panamanian and young indigenous leader, Jocabed Solano, about the inspiration and learning indigenous peoples offer.
• Wednesday 6th December: The Anglican Communion will cohost an official side event with the World Council of Churches, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute and the Episcopal Church about how faiths are responding at global and local levels to the need for justice in our response to climate change, including hearing from some of the communities most vulnerable to climate shocks.
• Sunday 10th December: Nicholas Pande and Bishop Julio will speak in a panel discussion with partners from the World Council of Churches about the impact of climate change on availability of water and food in the world’s most vulnerable communities and how faith groups are mobilizing a response.
• Monday 11th December: Archbishop Julio will speak on a diverse panel about ‘Exploring Religious Resistance to Climate Action.
• Agnes Lam is coordinating a Youth Café hangout with Climate Observers Program, Climate Yes!, SAFCEI and the Bahu Trust. This informal space for young adults representing states, NGOs and faith groups builds solidarity and allows refreshment throughout the negotiations.
• Nicholas Pande is coordinating faith leaders to discuss the ‘hot topics’ arising in the main negotiations – embracing dialogue across difference.

Download the report Anglicans are taking to COP28:  ‘Hope, Justice and a Voice for the Vulnerable – A call to Climate Action’