Emphasis on strong climate justice advocacy beyond COP30 – The Lutheran World Federation

Report on Faith-Based Advocacy for Sustainable Development Goals at Climate Negotiations

Ensuring Accountability for Climate Action (SDG 13 & SDG 16)

Civil society and faith-based organizations play a critical role in monitoring the implementation of global climate agreements, directly contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Delegates function as a “public witness,” tasked with ensuring that commitments made by world leaders are translated into tangible actions at the community and national levels.

• Delegates serve to hold institutions accountable for decisions made during international negotiations.
• This witness role is vital for preventing agreed-upon climate goals from failing to be implemented.
• The process reinforces commitments made by countries, communities, and churches toward climate justice.

Developing Strategic Partnerships for Long-Term Impact (SDG 17)

Effective climate advocacy requires sustained, long-term engagement that aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The development of a global community of climate justice advocates is central to this strategy, ensuring that efforts are not limited to single events but are part of an ongoing process.

1. Capacity Building: Young delegates, often active in national climate policy, are cultivated as experts who represent the public voice of their organizations.
2. Long-Term Strategy: Advocacy is viewed as a continuous process involving medium- and long-term strategies for sustained impact.
3. Intergenerational Collaboration: This approach fosters true intergenerational collaboration, ensuring the continuity and evolution of climate advocacy efforts.

Growing Global Engagement in Climate Negotiations

There is clear evidence of increasing commitment from global member churches to participate in climate action initiatives. A recent call for delegates yielded 74 applicants from nearly 40 member churches. This strong interest demonstrates a widespread organizational awareness and desire to contribute directly to the climate negotiation process, reinforcing the global partnership model of SDG 17.

A Faith-Based Perspective on Global Solidarity and the 2030 Agenda

The principles guiding faith-based participation in climate talks reflect the core tenets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A call for guidance and clarity in action aligns with the need for effective, data-driven policies to achieve the SDGs. The emphasis on interconnectedness underscores the indivisible nature of the goals and the necessity of global cooperation.

• A central theme is the need to overcome egocentrism and selfishness in favor of mutual understanding and collective action.
• This perspective calls for all stakeholders to act in good faith to care for the planet and each other.
• The concept of “interconnectedness” is presented as a foundational contribution of faith communities, mirroring the principle of shared responsibility that underpins the entire SDG framework.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The entire article is centered on climate justice advocacy, the importance of climate negotiations like the Conference of the Parties (COP), and the need to “care for our planet.” This directly aligns with the goal of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article emphasizes the formation of a “global community of climate justice advocates” and highlights the collaboration between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), its member churches, and young delegates. It describes advocacy as a collective effort involving different stakeholders, which is the core principle of SDG 17.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The role of being a “public witness back to our communities” to hold world leaders accountable for their commitments speaks to the need for accountable and inclusive institutions. The advocacy for climate justice and the prayer to “leave behind egocentrism and selfishness” for the good of the planet relate to promoting just and peaceful societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

  The article describes how young delegates are becoming “experts who understand the public voice of the church” and view advocacy as an “ongoing process.” This nurturing of knowledgeable advocates is a direct effort to build human capacity for climate action.

• Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management… including focusing on… youth and local and marginalized communities.

  The focus on “young delegates” and “true intergenerational collaboration” directly addresses the need to empower youth in climate change-related processes.

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…

  The LWF, a civil society organization, actively engaging its member churches and delegates in the global COP negotiations is a clear example of a civil society partnership aimed at influencing global policy and achieving sustainable development.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

  The article highlights that churches “want to contribute” to climate negotiations and that some young delegates are “invited to the COP by their own governments.” This reflects a push for more inclusive and participatory decision-making by including faith-based communities and youth in high-level discussions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 13.3: The article provides a specific metric that can be used as an indicator: the number of individuals and organizations from civil society seeking to participate in climate education and advocacy. It states, “This year we had 74 applicants from almost 40 LWF member churches.” This number serves as a direct measure of engagement and growing capacity.
• Indicator for Target 16.7: An implied indicator is the inclusion of non-state actors in official government processes. The article mentions that some young delegates “are even invited to the COP by their own governments,” which indicates progress towards more participatory and representative decision-making in climate policy.
• Indicator for Target 17.17: The level of participation of civil society organizations in global policy-making events is an implied indicator. The presence and active engagement of the LWF delegation at COP, representing a large network of churches, demonstrates the functioning of a civil society partnership on a global scale.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: lutheranworld.org