A global call to action

The work ahead is immense… no country and no economy is immune from the climate crisis.

Science and citizens are demanding ambitious and transformative climate action, but many governments are dragging their feet.

– Antonio Guterres, (2022)

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, made these clear statements ahead of pre-COP negotiations emphasising that all countries will be impacted by the climate crisis, whilst calling for governments to listen to demands and act fast.

The urgent need for collective action is echoed in the motto for COP27 – “together for implementation”. And, as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said in his welcome message to conference delegates, COP27 needs to become the moment when “words are translated to actions”.

However, moves towards action need to be sensitive to the fact sustainability issues are experienced differently by everyone; within our various locations and contexts at both individual and community level. Therefore, the motto “together for implementation” must translate into inclusive, real-world action that meets the needs of all.

Now is the time to realise the commitments made at COP26 to ensure that all voices are heard; including on-going demands from the most affected peoples in the most affected areas, young people, elders, civil society and indigenous communities.

This video from ‘The Elders’, an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights, makes an urgent call to action ahead of COP27. They echo the words of Antonio Guterres and call governments to “move beyond declarations, pledges and promises to real world action to meet the existential threat posed by the climate crisis”; reinforcing that COP27 “is a crucial moment for all of humanity”.

Pausing for a moment of Personal Reflection, we invite you to consider:

• What is your global ‘call to action’ for COP27?
• Do you feel that your ‘call to action’ is being represented and/or heard at COP27?

To help guide your thinking, you may wish to build on some of your responses to the previous reflective question and dig deeper into your own motivations and interests.

You are welcome to share your reflections in the comments area below, but there is no obligation to do so.

Should you wish to take a ‘deeper dive’, we invite you to explore the additional resources below.