United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP29)

Beginning with the historic Paris Agreement summit in 2015, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church has sent a delegation to the Conference of Parties (COP), the annual United Nations Climate Summit. The 29th session of the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as COP29, will be held November 11th – 22nd in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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Announcing the Presiding Bishop’s COP29 delegation 

Earlier this year, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry named 17 delegates to represent his office at the 2024 United Nations climate change conference, which began Nov. 11 and runs through Nov. 22.

The decision to send a small in-person delegation to Baku seeks to balance the urgency of climate change with concerns about ongoing human rights violations in Azerbaijan—in particular, the expulsion of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023. The Episcopal Church has a strong historic relationship with Armenian churches, and Episcopalians are invited to advocate for human rights and stand in prayerful solidarity with Armenians.

While three representatives will attend COP29 in person, the event’s hybrid platform allows for a wider representation of Episcopal delegates, who will participate virtually and in person in daily events, working closely with Anglican Communion delegates and other faith-based coalition partners.

The delegates—who have undergone in-depth advocacy training and will host public reports, discussions, and events throughout the process—are as follows:

• The Rev. Richard Acosta, Episcopal Diocese of Colombia 
• Kate Varley Alonso, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
• The Rev. Margaret Brack, Episcopal Diocese of Easton
• Alexander Colby, Episcopal Diocese of Texas
• Dawn Conklin, Episcopal Diocese of Montana
• The Rev. Lisa da Silva, Episcopal Diocese of California
• Riley Demo, Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
• Alexizendria Link, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
• Allegra Lovejoy, Episcopal Diocese of New York
• The Rev. Stephanie Johnson, Episcopal Church in Connecticut
• Elizabeth Harnett, Episcopal Church in Colorado
• The Rev. Lester V. Mackenzie, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
• Robin Okumu, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
• Tom Poynor, Episcopal Diocese of California
• The Rev. Anna Shine, Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
• Autumn Smith, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• Megan Womack, Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

Read more about the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation in the Public Affairs Press Release.

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Episcopal Church Policy Priorities for COP29

The Episcopal Church is committed to growing loving, liberating and life-giving relationships across the human family and with all of God’s creation. Our commitment to the call of Jesus has led us to engaging in mitigation and right sizing our lives as individuals and in our ministries, standing with frontline communities in laboring for environmental justice, ending environmental racism and finding a swift and just solution to the climate crisis. 

During the COP29 negotiations, we urge Parties and all stakeholders to embrace these priorities: 

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Episcopal Church Events 

You are warmly invited to join these Episcopal Church-hosted events. RSVP by registering at the links below. If you or your church are hosting a virtual event, please let everyone know by submitting an event listing to the Episcopal News Service Events page and sharing with creation@episcopalchurch.org. 

• Nov. 16, noon ET: Liturgy for Planetary Crisis: Episcopal Worship Service during COP29. Recording available soon.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 PM ET: Climate Justice Compline with the COP29 Delegation. Register online.

• Dec. 3, 7 p.m. ET: Episcopal COP29 Closing Event and Report Back from Delegates. Register online

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Questions? Feel free to contact us.