A week into the UN COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil, there is a sense, once again, that this could be called the Groundhog Day conference. The same topics are discussed and no binding agreements are reached. This time there are a staggering 50,000 participants in various roles although the United States as a nation isn't represented because the Trump administration labels climate change a hoax. There are an estimated 1200 lobbyists from fossil fuels interests at COP30, essentially inviting foxes into the hen house.
Because the US isn't there the media coverage has been meagre compared to other years although there have been moments in the past few days that have caught the world's attention. Indigenous peoples from the Amazon region, others from Pacific islands affected by rising water levels, as well as their supporters have marched peacefully but vocally in the streets around the COP30 venue, disrupting the daily agenda. In other years host countries have prohibited protests, so this is a positive development.
I am aware that while some Christan leaders, mostly Roman Catholics, have been champions for the peoples of Amazonia, there are others, usually missionaries, who have encouraged Indigenous communities to open up their territories for exploration and development. This is a terrible sin in my estimation, a betrayal in the name of Christian evangelism.
Former US vice president Al Gore -- remember An Inconvenient Truth? -- is at COP30 and offered tin a speech hat it is "literally insane" that humanity continues to misuse the atmosphere, the very air that we breathe.
Today we can pray for all those who are speaking the truth at COP30 and that repentance leading to a new direction can begin. If that sounds naive, we can't give up hope.
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