By: Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Representative to the United Nations

From October 21^st – November 1^st, 2024, an Episcopal delegation appointed by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is attending the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (#COP16), with the theme “Peace with Nature”, in Cali, Colombia. The delegation consists of Bishop Pastor Elias Garcia Cardeñas, Diocese of Colombia; Padre Luis Fernando Lopez Chicaiza of Parroquia Episcopal Trinity in Cali and Bishop Cathleen Bascom, Diocese of Kansas, and is guided and supported by members of the Presiding Bishop’s staff: Lynnaia Main, Episcopal Church Representative to the United Nations; The Reverend Glenda McQueen, Partnership Officer for Latin America & the Caribbean; The Reverend Melanie Mullen, Director of Justice, Reconciliation and Creation Care and Phoebe Chatfield, Program Associate for Creation Care and Justice.

The UN Biodiversity COPs are biennial gatherings to review progress on global biodiversity in the context of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, one of three UN international conventions (treaties) that came out of the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The other two Conventions were the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. At the last COP15 in 2023, member states agreed upon a Global Biodiversity Framework designed to restore natural spaces and species and reverse biodiversity loss. The COPs are a moment not only for member states to review their progress and set new benchmarks, but also for civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations like The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, to join in this dialogue.

This is The Episcopal Church’s first time having a presence at the UN Biodiversity COPs. This presence is possible due to the existence of multiple General Convention resolutions relating to biodiversity, as well as the innumerable acts of Episcopalians to protect their local biodiverse species and land. In September, the Church was admitted as an observer organization after submitting an application for accreditation, outlining the many ways it supports through resolutions and concrete action in biodiversity. 

As the Presiding Bishop’s delegation preparing to attend a UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP for the very first time, we sketched out our overall objectives as a delegation, as well as individual, diocesan, and departmental objectives, ahead of our arrival.

Our overall mission as a delegation is to “look, listen and learn” in this new UN space that Episcopalians are engaging for the first time, alongside our Anglican Communion and faith-based partners. We are also discerning future advocacy directions and points of engagement, as we learn from other faith-based organizations who have been present for longer, and the issues and processes relating to biodiversity.

We also developed additional individual, department and diocesan goals:

• Obispo Pastor Elias Garcia Cardeñas – has developed a Diocesan Strategic Plan for COP16 and has shared videos describing the Diocese’s biodiversity work
• The Rt. Rev. Cathleen Bascom, Bishop of Kansas – is developing eco-regional creation care networks (see General Convention Resolution B002), and at COP16 is seeking information to support those networks. Topics of interest include forest conservation efforts (including the Anglican Communion Forest initiative), sustainable agriculture, and protection of insect, pollinator and butterfly species
• Lynnaia Main – is discerning future possibilities for UN advocacy on biodiversity and broader environmental connections, including a call for action on three separate UN environmental convention meetings this year (the “Triple COPs”), networking with member states, UN officials, faith-based observer organizations and coalitions
• Reverend Glenda McQueen – is considering a specific role for Province IX and Anglican provinces, stronger participation from these dioceses, Anglican efforts around resilience and response to disasters
• Reverend Melanie Mullen –  seeks to encounter examples of loving, liberating and life-giving relationships with the earth, and intersectional efforts to address biodiversity including leadership of women/gender justice, to equip Episcopal dioceses and parishes
• Phoebe Chatfield – seeks information to support dioceses and congregations in their creation care, biodiversity, and climate action efforts. Focusing on advocacy efforts, youth and young adult engagement at COP16, Indigenous work on environmental protection, and learning from the Faiths for Biodiversity Faith Hub.

Episcopalians can join the delegation on social media over these two weeks as we discern together how our Church can engage this space to support and protect biodiversity, speaking through our General Convention resolutions and the many ways our churches and dioceses are engaged in protecting the diversity of our God-given world. Please pray for our delegation, our Anglican Communion and faith-based partners and the member states and UN officials who are advancing a global biodiversity framework that supports and protects all of God’s people, our beautiful nature and planet, and all creatures great and small.

Read about the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Global Biodiversity Framework and follow COP16 here: https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2024

#COP16 #PeaceWithNature

Follow the Episcopal Church delegation: @EpiscopalUN, @EpiscoGlobal, @EpiscoClimate, @IglesiaEpiscopalAnglicanaenColombia

#EpiscopalUN #EpiscopalClimate #creationcare

Follow the Anglican Communion delegation:

https://www.anglicancommunion.org/…/anglicans-at-cop16…

Follow the Faiths for Biodiversity Coalition and their Faith Hub: https://www.biodiversity.faith

About the author: Lynnaia Main serves on the Presiding Bishop’s staff as the Episcopal Church Representative to the United Nations, within the Global Partnerships & Mission Personnel team.