Thank you for joining us in praying strategically for COP27, November 7-18 in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. This year we are praying in support of the COP27 presidency’s stated theme: “Together for Implementation.” We know: as a rallying cry this slogan isn’t very compelling, but as a statement of what the Paris Process needs in 2022 for climate action, we think this three-word phrase is spot-on accurate.

Explanation of six-fold format:

1. From COP27 Vision: The COP27 presidency has listed five vision statements for COP27. We’ll quote the one that most pertains to togetherness or implementation.

2. Admonition from Scripture: We list a Scripture passage that pertains to the “spirit” with which we hope leaders, negotiators, and the world will approach togetherness or implementation.

3. Urgent/Relevant Context: What is the world like in 2022 that makes togetherness or implementation so urgent or so relevant for COP27>

4. A Way to Address God: that evokes how God meets us in togetherness or implementation.

5. The Two Simple Prayers:

   •       For robust togetherness

   •       For faithful, speedy, and effective implementation

6. The Many Specific Prayer Requests under that Category: here we will give you only a handful of specific examples, but you will have many other prayer requests that YOU bring, perhaps from your own local context, about togetherness and implementation.

Togetherness

From COP27 Vision Statement: “Ensuring that no country or group is left behind through building mutual trust and understanding and stressing the global nature of the climate challenge and hence the need for collective, complementary and collaborative action.”

Admonition from Scripture: “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (I Peter 4:8-10).

Urgent/Relevant Context: “In a year marked by war, resource insecurity, racist and nativist ideologies, and natural disasters which drive nations to self-interest, . . .” we pray:

Oh God who created us all and gave us a common home in which to live:

We pray for a robust togetherness at COP27

Examples of specific prayers related to togetherness:
-That an “African COP” will feature African concerns.
-For developed nations to deliver on their climate finance promises.
-For a good faith dialogue with actual plans for loss and damage.
-For Brazil to deliver a climate-friendly government.
-For improved relations between China and US
-For the inclusion of marginalized voices
-For greater compassion for migration of people.
-Other prayer requests including your local prayers for togetherness:

From COP27 Vision Statement: “Emphasizing the need to move from negotiations to implementation through specific, measurable, impactful initiatives to be delivered and implemented on the ground.”

Admonition from Scripture: “As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of [one who bears the good news of Christ], carry out your ministry fully. As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:5-7).

Urgent/Relevant Context: In the year following Glasgow’s COP26, where the Paris Agreement rulebook was finally agreed upon, where nations agreed to prepare more ambitious emissions reductions for COP27 in Egypt (4 years faster than previously planned), ...

In a year of rapid global investment in renewables but worrying increases in methane in the atmosphere and extreme weather nearly everywhere, where it seems that the prospect of cutting emissions by half by 2030 to keep a limit of 1.5 degrees average warming alive is vanishing before a world that is moving unreasonably slowly – sometimes even in the wrong direction, ... we pray:

Oh God who plans for welfare, not harm; who plans for futures with hope:
We pray for faithful, speedy, and effective implementation

Examples of specific prayers related to implementation:

-That all nations will submit more ambitious NDCs (reduction targets) that will finally match the 1.5 target.

-That preparations for a thorough, transparent, and accurate Global Stocktake in 2023 will be completed.

-That public officials will act with diligence and justice.

-For Strong accountability models and mechanisms for all aspects, so as to build trust.

-Other prayer requests, including your local prayers for implementation:

Thank you for praying!