QUNO Geneva’s Human Impacts of Climate Change (HICC) team, Lindsey Fielder Cook and Johan Cavert, were intensely active at the UN Climate Change meetings in Bonn. These Subsidiary Body meetings (SB62) were held by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 16-26 June and are in preparation for the upcoming COP in Brazil.
This is the 13th year QUNO has offered quiet diplomacy dinners to a group of high level negotiators from a diverse group of countries. In addition to this effort, QUNO was engaged in negotiations, in two preparatory Constituted Bodies, in several inter-faith efforts, in two press conferences, an off-the-record meeting with climate scientists, in human rights advocacy, in Paris Agreement celebrations (see photo), and in the distribution of QUNO publications on climate science findings.
Our work at the SB62 Conference began weeks earlier, in Constituted Body meetings on both Loss and Damage and the Katowice Committee of Experts (Response Measures). Additional preparation included support to the Interfaith Liaison Committee (ILC), which creates spaces for interfaith voices in climate negotiation spaces, and helping draft the Interfaith Call to Action, which was signed by a range of Quaker organizations.
As the SB62 began, we started with an Interfaith Gathering in the Spirit of Talanoa Dialogue on the opening day. In this Talanoa space, a range of faith representatives attending the conference (and online) shared their concerns and hopes for climate justice, climate finance and National Determined Contribution pledges. We heard from the COP30 Presidency on their Global Ethical Stocktake initiative, and in small groups shared in the Talanoa style our values, goals, and hopes for the rest of the conference.
QUNO Quiet Diplomacy dinners aim to help build communication and understanding between a diverse group of countries. Since 2013, QUNO has held over 20+ quiet diplomacy meetings, involving negotiators from over 60 countries. In the June dinner, negotiators focused on what they valued about the Paris Agreement, and how they could contribute to solidarity and hope during heightened challenges to multilateralism. These dinners are funded by Quaker donations and offer a safe space for more personal and genuine discussion. Lindsey was invited to join a 10 year celebration of those present at the creation of the Paris Agreement.
During the SB62, Lindsey joined several civil society colleagues to met with the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the 7th Assessment Co-chairs. In this meeting, she shared concerns over high risk Carbon Dioxide Removal and the critical importance of the IPCC to clearly state risks and focus on healthy and equitable root cause transformation.
We also co-hosted a Stakeholder Dialogue with the University of British Columbia, SwedBio, Sokka Gakkai International, and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network. The Dialogue focused on "Seeking Synergies in Human Rights, Social and Environmental Safeguards for Nature-based Solutions". Elisa Morgera, the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change, joined a group of expert speakers, followed by small group discussion. QUNO organized an art exhibition alongside the Dialogue, with hand-made panels from the Quaker led "Loving Earth Project". These beautiful depictions of nature brought inspiration to the meeting.
Both Lindsey and Johan spoke at Press Conferences, the first on the "Interfaith Call to Action" and the again on interfaith calls for the COP30 in Brazil this November. In addition, we held a gathering for civil society colleagues working on the intersection of human rights and climate change, now a traditional support to this community.
Throughout, we handed out our QUNO Government Official’s Toolkit which collates findings on urgent and healthy climate action from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and What We Can Do, a publication for people wanting to act in their daily lives to address the root causes of climate change.
