Is There Hope for Biodiversity as COP15 Concludes?

 

                                                         Delegates at COP15 in Montreal

 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,  who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 

The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.  He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ 

But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.  

   

Luke 16: 19-25 NRSVue 

Today may be the day a nearly-final draft of an international agreement is issued regarding biodiversity on this planet. COP15, the 15th Convention of the Parties  is similar to many of the predecessors on climate. There is a whole lot of "blah, blah, blah", to use Greta Thunberg's exasperated expression from a couple of years ago, and a lot of dithering.

At COP15 a major sticking point has been the degree to which wealthy nations take responsibility for the mess we're in. Setting aside land and sea to protect biodiversity, the 30% by 2030 -- 30 by 30 -- is a biggie. So is anteing up the bucks to assist developing nations protect habitat and mitigate against threats such as drought and sea level rise. 

There was actually a spontaneous walk-out by frustrated representatives of those countries at one point because it seemed that the desire of rich countries was to keep the language vague regarding measurable targets. 

It has been pointed out, repeatedly, that many wealthy nations were colonial powers at one point, plundering their vassal nations of resources for centuries. The church got involved, developing the Doctrine of Discovery and "terra nullus" (vacant land) an abomination used to justify invasion. In the 15th century a pope issued the first bull for the king of Portugal to

conquer "Saracens, pagans and other enemies of Christ", and “reduce their persons to perpetual servitude” while also taking their land and goods “to convert them to you, and your use, and your successors..."

This got me thinking of the parable which is as close to "hellfire and damnation" as Jesus got in his teaching. An arrogant  rich man ends up in eternal torment and pleads for mercy but he's told that he's already experienced the good life. The miserable wretch, Lazarus, is the one who receives comfort. 

At COP27 in Egypt and now at COP15 in Montreal we've been warned, once again, that humanity is creating a climate and environmental hell on earth. Some of the scenarios are doomsday, and they are probably accurate, if we don't change our patterns of consumption immediately we'll live in that "Hades" for generations to come. 

I continue to hold out hope because we're told it's possible, but not without sacrifices and a global reset. I've been paying attention to Katharine Hayhoe, the Canadian climate scientist teaching in the United States who is at COP15. Hayhoe is a Christian and while she is a realist she is also committed to hope, as the title of her book clearly states. I'm with her.