THE Anglican Communion must take the lead in addressing the climate crisis, the Primate of Brazil, the Most Revd Martinez Rosa Dos Santos Bassotto, who’s the Bishop of Amazonia, told the General Synod in an address on the Friday.
Speaking in Portuguese, through an interpreter, she said that COP30, which was held in Brazil in November, had not made significant progress.
While it had approved each the goal of triple funding for climate adaptation to guard vulnerable populations and the creation of a tropical forest fund, there had been frustration and criticisms concerning the lack of a definitive plan for a just energy transition and the abandonment of forest fossil fuels, she said.
But the simultaneous People’s Summit had brought together greater than 70,000 participants to debate climate solutions based on the experiences of indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and social movements. And greater than 15,000 people had joined an ecumenical gathering of Christians within the Anglican cathedral.
“It proved that churches can promote meaningful dialogue and motion related to socio-environmental justice, and needs to be a prophetic voice denouncing environmental and social injustices, defending the rights of vulnerable peoples and calling for urgent motion to guard God’s creation,” she said.
“You are ready to mobilise and have interaction our congregations in concrete actions equivalent to awareness campaigns, reforestation projects, and the promotion of sustainable practices. We can act as bridges . . . bringing together representatives of governments, businesses, civil society, and native communities to search out joint solutions to environmental and social challenges.
“We can even offer spiritual and pastoral support to people affected by climate change and environmental degradation, promoting healing, reconciliation, and hope. I firmly consider within the leading role of the Church of the Anglican Communion in addressing the climate crisis. We can’t be mere observers. We have to be agents of change. The time is now. The moment is that this.”
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