Responding to COP26
By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
As world leaders gathered to discuss responses to climate change, two responses have captured my attention and imagination: that of Uncle Ray Minniecon, who attended COP26, and Radford Year 11 student Sarah Wilford.
Uncle Ray Minniecon – COP26 Diary
Eternity News is publishing Uncle Ray’s diary from COP26. As Eternity notes, “Ray Minniecon is a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation and the Gurang Gurang nation of south-east Queensland. He is also a descendant of the South Sea Islander people, with deep and abiding connections to the people of Ambrym Island. He leads Scarred Tree, an Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Australian South Sea Islander ministry based in St John’s Glebe, Sydney.”
Uncle Ray’s voice provides insight as he grapples with the issues in terms of sharing information and his emotional and spiritual response to being at Glasgow, meeting world leaders including the Archbishop of Canterbury, and conversing with delegates and media from around the globe.
Diary entry #1: Wednesday 27 October, 2021: Leaving for Glasgow.
Diary entry #2: Friday 29 October 2021: Trying to understand Australia’s Climate Change Plans
Diary entry #3: Sunday 31 October, 2021: Preparing my mind for this ‘big, hairy and scary moment in human history’
Diary entry #4: Sunday 31 October 2021: Church in Glasgow with my big, global family.
Diary entry #5: Monday 1st November 2021: Prayer with the Archbishop, a message for Scott Morrison, and a hug from home.
Diary entry #6: Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 November 2021: A David and Goliath battle for First Nations Peoples, and meeting Twiggy Forrest.
Reading Uncle Ray’s account “from the ground” is an example of the adage “the personal is political”. Uncle Ray shares information with his readers that includes an Australian and global lens, along with his involvement in several Indigenous and Christian groups that have worked on climate policy and advocacy.
Readers are taken on a journey of lament, grief, prayer, participation, knowledge, and a cry to the Spirit of God for guidance.
Sarah Wilford – Year 11 at Radford College
Sarah Wilford has been watching COP26 from Canberra. As the newly appointed Sustainability Officer for Dirrum Dirrum Festival 2022, she too responds:
Over the past week, many leaders around the world attended the Glasgow Climate Change Conference in Scotland.
In following this conference, also called COP26, I saw many countries outline their emission reduction targets and policies to limit species extinction, pollution, and ultimately keep global temperature rises below 1.5oC.
However, I also noticed that Australia’s climate policies did not align with more forward-thinking policies announced by other countries such as Sweden, Denmark or the UK.
At COP26, the Australian government outlined its plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 which was formulated a few weeks before the conference. Unfortunately, 2050 is a long time away and I believe we have already seen the effects of the changing climate through the black summer bushfires and extreme drought events a few years ago.
As seen in the CSIRO’s ‘State of the Climate’ report from 2020, the temperature of Australia’s climate has increased by around 1.44oC and we cannot wait another 30 years for climate action to be implemented.
Next year I will be turning 18 which comes with the responsibility to vote, and in the future, I hope to see greater action and stronger policies that impede companies and individuals from disrespecting our environment.
I am thankful to Uncle Ray and to Sarah for helping me tune into the issues at hand. I’ll give the final word to a student in Pre-K, Heidi, and her drawing called, “God and the World.” A reminder of our fragile and beautiful world and a generous Creator.
May the Spirit of God continue to empower us all to seek the common good of all creation and all who call this planet home.
Blessings,
Rev. Katherine