Your Christian Climate Observers Program team at COP28 in Dubai

Hope is Wrought

Alexandra Wright, Londyn Johnson, Kevin Browning

Fought for and wrought, hope is not a fickle thing. Hope is a firm hull, a tiring packhorse, a dulling plow in the final row, a crushed spirit that steps. Abiding hope is the fare of the spirit. 

This year, the United Nations Climate Summit (COP28) is taking place in one of the oil capitals of the world, the United Arab Emirates. We could not dream up a more complex delegation. And all-the-while, each of the 97,000 people here have a choice to generate hopefulness. Three members of the CCOP team will now demonstrate a personal experience with hope at COP28. 

Kevin is from Los Angeles and teaches conservation biology at Biola University. As Kevin sat on day 2 of COP28, he listened to a speech from the President of Brazil. President Luis Inacio Da Silva is the primary steward of the Amazon Rainforest. His message was of green industrialization and the absolute protection of the Amazon Rainforest, a powerfully redemptive shift from the previous reign of Jair Bolsanaro. President Da Silva spoke with guttural absolution that paved a vision in Kevin’s mind for a peaceful coming together of the nations. 

Alexa attended a session with the Rockefeller Foundation where a panel of diverse individuals spoke about regenerative farming and agriculture. In particular, Paul Polman, the CEO of Unilever for 10 years, spoke about the feasibility of regenerative agriculture through funding that is available now; donors have the money to dedicate to this matter, but it is an issue of redirecting the funding. Sitting in on this panel gave Alexa much hope. Knowing the solutions are feasible to reduce food waste and insecurity through redirection of funding, subsidies, and policies is a relief - now it’s time to put it into action.

Londyn had the opportunity to attend a meeting where emissions from fuel used for international aviation and maritime transportation was discussed. This is an area that has plenty of room for growth because it is a sector that produces so many emissions, yet it is not something most people think of when it comes to climate change. During this meeting we discussed reports from the various organizations which proved that the UN countries understand the harms of emissions caused by exporting goods on boats and through air. Many of the world powers were vocal during this meeting which gives Londyn hope that we can come to a consensus and create change during this COP.

In these stories, and in the light of hope, all is well - all with a God who redeems, a God who sustains, a God who allows, a God who brings hope to the young systems of our humanity. J.R.R. Tolkien stated in an interview that one of his core reasons for sub-creating Middle Earth was to verse the universal truth that goodness and hope can persevere, even when the task at hand is borne by three hobbits on a path as thin as the blade of a knife. reveals this universal truth in his sub-created world of Middle Earth. 

“From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.”

Prayer Requests

• Pray for collaboration, it is essential for this COP, and especially needed between the fossil fuel industry and those in the climate-reducing space.
•  Pray that the Lord be with all of the members of the CCOP and grant us discernment as we receive so much information in all of these meetings.
• Pray that a host is found for the Santiago network for Loss and Damage fund.