What can we pray for through COP16? This article was first published in the Church Times on 21 October 2024 and it was written by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher.
“Over the next ten days, I will be leading an Anglican Communion delegation to the United Nations’ COP16 in Colombia, accompanied by representatives from three other continents. This is a critical moment for the future of life on earth. We are living in the midst of a biodiversity crisis: species are vanishing at an alarming rate, ecosystems are under pressure, and the delicate web of life is fraying faster than we can repair it.
For too long, we’ve taken nature for granted, forgetting that our well-being depends on it. At COP16, world leaders will meet to assess how well we are living up to promises to protect biodiversity — and the decisions made in Colombia will shape the future not just of the natural world, but of humanity.
I have often spoken about the biblical call in Genesis to “till and keep” the earth. Yet, with the accelerating loss of biodiversity, we are failing to get the balance right.
The Anglican Communion Calls to COP16 are outlined in a short report produced by the Communion’s UN team, Choosing Hope: Anglican joint action on nature loss. The report calls for joint action in five areas that include: reforestation initiatives (choose hope); peace and reconciliation work (choose peace); amplifying Indigenous voices (choose wisdom); just financing (choose justice); and encouraging society-wide approaches to protecting nature (choose well-being).
COP16 offers a pivotal moment to change course. So, what would good, better, and best outcomes look like?
A “good” outcome would mean nations’ making firm, clear commitments to implementing their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). This is the basic expectation: that countries align their actions with the Kunming-Montreal Framework. We have seen how policies can often lag behind intention. At COP16, I hope that the “good” outcome would include countries’ reporting meaningful progress on halting biodiversity loss, and a genuine willingness to collaborate. Without these, the conversation remains abstract and disconnected from the urgent realities on the ground.
A “better” outcome would mean countries’ going beyond their initial commitments. For biodiversity to flourish, we must reduce destructive practices and increase areas of protected habitat. There is also a need for robust, sustainable financing to support biodiversity, especially in low-income nations disproportionately affected by the climate and ecological crises. This would involve richer nations’ agreeing on new mechanisms for funding — ones that do not simply shift responsibility, but foster global co-operation.
The “best” outcome would be nothing short of transformative. It would mean that countries would not only agree to protect 30 per cent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, but also embed biodiversity into every aspect of governance and economics.
Realistically, a good outcome feels within reach, and that gives me hope. Nations have shown progress before, and we must keep the momentum going. A better outcome is possible, though it will require courageous leadership. I am praying that we can rise to the challenge, seeing ourselves as part of nature, not apart from it.
THE Church has long been a voice for the marginalised. Today, it is the natural world that is most at risk of being silenced. At COP16, my hope is to bring the voice of faith communities to the table, reminding world leaders that creation is not a resource to be exploited, but a gift to be cherished and protected.
The Church can play its part directly, too. At a national or regional level, this can be done by managing farmland and forests in ways that seek to balance productive use with the preservation of biodiversity. Working with tenants and organisations, we can promote sustainable practices, such as regenerative farming and careful woodland management. When things are good for nature, they are generally good for businesses and for people.
At the local level, parishes and individuals can actively participate in initiatives such as Churches Count on Nature, which encourages communities to record and monitor the diverse species found in our churchyards (News, 11 June 2021). Churches can also explore opportunities for managing churchyards to foster a richer biodiversity so that they become places of the living, not just the dead.
Why not consider writing to your local MP, or joining causes and campaigns that advocate environmental stewardship? For further information, have a look at the newly published short guide by the C of E’s Environment Programme, which provides valuable resources and ideas for action.
Internationally, the Communion is also playing its part in promoting biodiversity. The Anglican Church of Kenya has made tree growth and ecosystem stewardship a significant part of its ministry. Tree-planting is woven into significant church celebrations such as weddings and baptisms, as well as the Church’s programme of theological study and community action.
The Anglican Church of Melanesia and the Franciscan Brothers in the Solomon Islands, where damage to coral reefs, fishing grounds, and deforestation are a widespread reality, have pursued an advocacy campaign with the UN to secure change to protect these vital environments.
And, of course, we cannot ignore the urgency of the climate crisis, which will be the focus of COP29 in Baku next month.
Both biodiversity and climate change are deeply interlinked, and global action needs to ensure that progress in one area complements the other. We need leaders to make commitments not just to reducing emissions, but to fostering environments that allow both people and nature to thrive.
As I join other members of the Communion in Colombia, my hope is that COP16 will be a place where governments show that they understand that the well-being of humanity is inextricably linked to the health of nature. My prayer is that we will leave the conference with renewed hope and concrete actions that bring life not just for humanity, now and in the future, but also for the rest of creation with which we share our global home.
I would ask you to pray for leaders to have the courage to step up and invest in our shared future.
The Rt Revd Graham Usher is the Bishop of Norwich and the Church of England’s lead bishop on environmental affairs.
For more information on how to get involved, visit: churchofengland.org/about/environment-and-climate-change