Newsletter - 17th October 2021
What is COP26?
COP26 is the 26th meeting of the Conference of Parties, aka the 26th year that governments, NGOs, trade unions, businesses, and everyone else with any interest in climate change meets to review and negotiate global action. Taking place from 1-12 November 2021 – delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic - the world is headed to Glasgow, Scotland, formally hosted under the UK Presidency.
Why does COP26 matter? Six years on from the 2015 Paris Agreement, it’s a key moment to take stock of progress, but also ramp up commitments alongside a clear plan of action for how climate action targets will be met in the short, medium, and long terms.
“As Catholics, we are called to not stay silent and not to be passive. And our voices are needed more than ever this year, as the UK hosts two major global events – the G7 Summit in June in Cornwall and the COP26 UN Climate Talks in Glasgow in November. The UK can have significant influence on these meetings as host, so we need to make sure our political leaders hear, now, that we want the world poorest people to be at the heart of these talks.”
What is the Parish Agreement? Adopted at COP21 in 2015, the majority of the world’s nations committed to containing global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and preferably to 1.5 degrees. It was a major culmination of more than twenty years of diplomatic action.
What is the COP26 agenda?
The UK Presidency of COP26 has set out 4 main goals for the conference:
Step up mitigation efforts: Further reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep the 1.5 degree Celsius goal within reach.
Strengthen adaptation and resilience: Protect the global population, and particularly the most vulnerable regions of the world, from the already unavoidable impacts of climate change.
Mobilise USD 100 billion in climate finance: Since Paris 2015, developed countries have endeavoured to allocate funding every year to support the decarbonisation of developing countries. This is because the UNFCCC is based on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibility”, i.e. the entire global community needs to take part in the efforts to combat climate change, but those efforts need to be commensurate with the capabilities of each signatory.
Enhance international collaboration: In particular, finalising the Paris Rulebook. The UK Presidency has also pointed to 5 themes for COP26 (with little elaborating detail so far) - Clean energy; Adaptation and resilience; Energy transition in transport; Nature-based solutions; Finance.
Common Home Project Team
Focus of the week
You are invited to join Cardinal Vincent at 2pm on 25th October 2021, for this Welcome Liturgy from the Catholic community and significant event showing solidarity with those who make difficult and dangerous journeys to reach safety and sanctuary in this country.
We hope people of all nationalities from around the Diocese will be there to welcome Amal. It is during half term week, which provides an opportunity for families to come together.
For full details about her journey are available to download.
This occasion is designed to provide information about how best to prepare for a role in a Catholic school and an opportunity to meet with current Catholic school leaders. We will also provide an opportunity to register for a mentoring programme for those who wish to be accompanied and supported on their journey in to Catholic education.