COP29 experience 'both empowering and challenging'

Source: Jesuit Missions

A team from a Jesuit environmental and spiritual education centre in Madagascar have been taking part in COP29, thanks to support from Jesuit Missions.

Representatives from the Centre Arrupe in Madagascar have been in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku, for the past week, to raise awareness of their work and the impact of climate change on their country.

Director of Programmes, Patricia Tahirindray, and Efa Ravelonantoandro and Henintsoa Nary Mihamina from the Environment and Sustainable Development department have been flying the flag for the centre.

"It's been an honour to participate in COP29, bringing our mission-driven commitment to the global climate dialogue," Efa said.

"Our objectives include promoting impactful climate projects, strengthening collaborations with key actors in climate justice and integral ecology and advocating for fair climate finance."

The Centre Arrupe is a partner organisation of Jesuit Missions, which was able to financially support the team's trip to Baku.

It runs training and awareness raising sessions built around protecting our natural world, taking inspiration from Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si'.

Efa added: "We recognise that climate action is a duty of care for our common home. In line with the Pope's message, COP29 provides an important opportunity to act on climate justice, ensuring that those most affected by climate change, including vulnerable communities, are supported through fair policies and sustainable solutions."

Patricia, Efa and Henintsoa have been providing daily updates of what they have been up to at this year's COP, including meetings with senior Malagasy politicians and sessions with other Catholic organisations at the conference's Faith Pavilion.

Their reports show the opportunities that have been presented to them to highlight their work on a world stage, but they also highlight the stark divide between the Global North and the Global South when it comes to addressing climate change.

Henintsoa said: "Attending COP as citizens of the Global South is both empowering and challenging.It's motivating to share our experiences and advocate for our communities. However, it's also discouraging to see how some discussions are influenced by fossil fuel interests or the Global North, which can overshadow the needs of the most vulnerable."

Jesuit Missions was pleased to support the Centre Arrupe on their journey to COP29, having seen firsthand the excellent work they do in a country that is so vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

From 'Green Weekends' centred on tree-planting, to regular education sessions for Laudato Si' Animators, they want to ensure the country's young people - and the wider planet - have a bright future.

Richard Solly, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer at Jesuit Missions, said: "Climate talks are targeted by the fossil fuel industry and other very influential economic interests, and it is crucial that the voices of civil society in the Global South are heard above all the background noise of lobbying.

"Our friends at Centre Arrupe are working with other Jesuit organisations, others in the international Network for Catholic Climate and Environment Actors and others from Africa to make sure that COP29 negotiators listen to them."