Philip Huggins
Monday, 30 June 2025
Between the United Nation’s COPs each year, as many know, there is a session held in Bonn to try and facilitate the full implementation of the Paris Agreement as soon as possible.
https://unfccc.int/sb62
The next session – SB 62 – starts on June 16.
As part of the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), I will help with Prayers and Meditations at the Talanoa Dialogue.
The Talanoa Dialogue responds to the classic three questions on climate action: ‘where are we up to; where do we want to get to; how do we get there?’
These are good questions any time. It would be wonderful if our Prime Minister, and Leader of the Opposition, met patiently and carefully, focused by these questions.
The questions have a Pacific ‘Talanoa’ background.This is congruent with our hope that SB62 will confirm Australia, with our Pacific neighbours, as hosts of the 2026 UNCOP.
It would be wonderful leadership if our political leaders together shaped a National Plan which ensures Australia makes this demanding, difficult transition to net zero, safely and fruitfully.
Of encouragement, when I listen to the young, gifted Australian diplomats and negotiators for this SB62, they are evidence of a quality of expertise in public service for the common good.
Our Interfaith Liaison Committee has also prepared a ‘Call to Action,’ which brings up to date our response to current challenges.
After our Dialogue on 16 June this will then be presented to those at SB62.
All these details are on the ILC website.
https://interfaithliaisoncommittee.carrd.co/
The need for successful implementation of the Paris Agreement is ‘bleedingly obvious,’ to use an old phrase.
We seek to prevent more catastrophic climate events. We want there to be climate justice. The need for all this is vivid, even as multilateral cooperation loses momentum and as terrible wars cause the most awful suffering.
We sustain high aims in problematic international circumstances. The need is for both peace-building and climate action.
We yearn to see, as Pope Leo conveys, ‘No more War’!.. no more dead children in the arms of anguished and bereft parents..
We pray and meditate at SB62 for inspired cooperation so that we give all planetary life a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
As these are the truest, kindest, and most beautiful of aspirations, why settle for less?
As it happens, I was meditating last weekend by the grave of St Mary McKillop in Sydney.
Life is short. The needs are great. The saints convey that it is always best to live by the highest choices we can make, every day!
We can create a safe and peaceful world for us all. It’s a matter of the choices we make, complex as we know this is!
Wisdom is to always make the choice which is truest, kindest, and most beautiful. We change when we do this ourselves. The world changes for the better when we do this collectively.
The journey of a million kilometres starts with the next step, as various proverbs convey.
A beautiful aspect of our Interfaith Liaison Committee is the multifaith cooperation. Regular contact for this higher purpose has its fruit in deep friendships. These friendships are tested by recent and current cruelties, but endure.
The Prayers and Meditations we will offer together on Monday, June 16 evidence a transcending purpose. Our meditations help us better see the world through the eyes of little children and endangered species. Thus comes the inspiration to then act accordingly.
Bishop Philip Huggins is a member of the Interfaith Liaison Committee to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Republished with permission from Religions for Peace.
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