Tonight I attended the Interfaith Gathering in the Spirit of Talanoa Dialogue at COP28, which was held at Christ Church Jebel Ali in Dubai, UAE. Talanoa is a problem solving method that involves group discussions around three questions: Where are we? Where do we want to go? How do we get there?
I joined the discussion group “Mitigation and the Just Transition.” The most impactful part of the experience for me was the way we listened to each person’s responses to the question without offering any response or feedback. This way, we heard everyone’s contributions completely, with no distractions.
There were people in my group from three different continents and a variety of faith traditions: an oil company executive, clergy, a reporter, and people working in advocacy. The thoughts people shared on the energy transition were well outside my own experience and helped me appreciate just how many perspectives I had not previously considered.
It was interesting in the end to take all of our individual contributions and collectively come up with two responses to the question “Where do we want to go?” The structured conversation style we began with set the tone for a calm and respectful — and productive — conversation.
Some common themes emerged, even from our very different contributions to the conversation. One was that we all want an equitable and sustainable future for everyone. The second was that the energy transition must be carried out with integrity, namely that parties should follow through on their promises.
Working with my group to find common ground using the Talanoa process was a rewarding experience. I can see why the process can be so effective as a foundation for solving tough problems.
Climate communications experts say finding common ground is the best way to start a conversation about climate change. Tonight’s conversation reminded me of the importance of starting any conversation with deep listening. It is possible to find something in common with most anyone, if you begin with the goal of understanding. This is a shift from the way I often approach interactions, where my goal is often to convince them of my perspective (a job hazard for an advocate or a pastor!).
I will close with another perspective shared at the event. The evening started with an interfaith panel discussion about why people of faith are so important in the fight against climate change. Climate change is a spiritual problem, not just a scientific problem, and the problem began well before the industrial revolution. The problem is deeper than our dependence on fossil fuels, it is caused by our failure to appreciate the interconnectedness we share with other people and with creation. It is a failure to recognize the abundance of the earth’s resources, which were provided by our creator. The prayer and reflection service and the meal at the end of the event was a reflection of that abundance, abundance of beauty, of joy, of connection. People of faith are essential for making these kinds of connections and calling people to their better selves in addressing difficult problems of all kinds.
