Special contribution by Reverend Mel Caraway, Texas Interfaith Power & Light Coordinator
I’m sure you’ve heard the story about three men who walked into a bar. Oh, wait a minute, this isn’t that story. This is a story about three men who happened to sit at the same table during the lunch hour on a crowded outdoor patio in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt at COP27. The first one was an American, the second was a German-American living in Ireland, and the third was a Ukrainian. What started as a simple lunch of kebabs turned into an incredible discussion of climate, COP’s, politics, and the war in Ukraine.
Mike, the German-American, is a COP veteran who has been attending since Kyoto in 1997. He is a climate change, clean energy economist and policy specialist who has lived and worked around the world for the past 45 years. Daniel, the Ukrainian, works for the government and is the chief Ukrainian negotiator here at COP. And I, who happened to be sitting at this table for four by myself when these two gentlemen asked if they could join me, am a retired pastor working on climate advocacy in the US faith community. Saying “yes” to them turned out to be one of the most interesting, educational, and wide ranging conversations of my life.
Mike and I spent a few minutes talking about our personal backgrounds mostly, but also about COP and its history, before Daniel joined us. Mike has been attending since the early years when the discussions were mostly science related, civil society was not nearly as involved as it is today, and lengthy political discussions had not yet become a major factor.
When Daniel sat down, we learned he was from Ukraine. That was a game changer in terms of the conversation. We expressed outrage over what was happening to his country and his people. He expressed his gratitude for all the American aid, especially missile technology, that is enabling the Ukrainian army to hold the Russians at bay. While we were talking, he got an email with 10-minute-old footage of the results of a missile attack that had just happened in Kyiv which showed a burning building. He said that while Russians are fleeing Russia to keep from getting drafted, Ukrainians are trying to bribe military commanders to let them back into the army. We talked about the recently completed mid-term elections and how the results have given them hope for the future of the USA, the world, and the fight for climate justice. Daniel told us that he was doing what he does for his two children, 11 and 6 years old. He, as so many in the world, want a sustainable planet for their children and future generations.
As our conversation drew to a close, Mike turned the conversation back to COP and lamented that the speed of progress at early COPs has slowed in recent years. We talked about the failure of nations to live up to promises made, and the increasing pressure that climate-induced loss and damage are placing on the negotiations.
We also affirmed our continued hope. As we went on our respective ways following lunch, I was reminded of what climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe says: It is so important for people to be here at the COP, to engage in the global space and make the connections that will propel progress in the future. I couldn’t agree more. The people you meet and the discussions you have can be totally life changing. And that’s one of the reasons I keep coming back to COP each year. I meet individuals who show me new paradigms and perspectives. COP is a major force in addressing the climate crisis that threatens the future of our planet. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here.