Will we allow the spiritual wisdom of the young to lead us?

By Joan Brown

Special to the Independent

The young, who in recent years have strongly urged us to act, will only inherit the planet we choose to leave to them, based on the concrete choices we make today. – Pope Francis’ written message to world leaders at COP26, Nov. 2, 2021 The UN Glasgow climate meetings that just ended hold only a few bright spots of action forward to limit carbon reductions to address harm already happening. One of those lights that cannot be missed is the engagement of young people from around the world.

But, the question remains, will the world listen to the spiritual wisdom of the younger generations to care for Our Common Home and all living beings whose lives are at stake?

Young people of many faith traditions were present the last two weeks in Glasgow and their pleas to reduce carbon by phasing out fossil fuels were heard in the streets and halls of the conference. Their words and banners focused on “loss and damage,” care for the forests, and hearing the voices of the most vulnerable countries and peoples.

Listening to their presentations to world leaders and the many videos they created and prayer services they spoke at, I was reminded of Jesus and the children. He commanded the disciples, the leaders around him, to “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kindom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Do we understand this command of Jesus? Consistently throughout the negotiations young people were fighting to have their opinions included in the outcomes. But their voices have nagged us for years now. Before the COP began young people of faith prayed and fasted in DC and were hospitalized trying to get the attention of leaders in Washington who still have not passed the Build Back Better Act with an emphasis on practical applications for climate action.

Many young people are acutely aware of global inequalities and marginalization starkly evident in the growing climate crisis and the need to act now. Small steps were made in the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Countries were asked to come together next year, rather than in five years, to deliver new plans to cut greenhouse emissions.

For the first time in 26 years "loss and damage” was mentioned with the need to reduce fossil fuels. There was global attention and commitment to act on methane pollution from oil and gas, which is a large concern in New Mexico and there was a promise by wealthier nations to live up to promises of money for the Green Climate Fund and to stop deforestation. But, the young people, along with scientists and people of faith were that actions were not disappointed that more ambitious actions were not taken to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The 2020s are a critical decade for dramatically slashing emissions, which must be cut by at least 45% to have a chance at meeting the 1.5 C target. An earlier U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report showed the planet could cross the 1.5 C threshold sometime in the 2030s. Some parts of the world have already crossed this threshold and we are experiencing each year the effects.

Before the 2015 COP in Paris, at which an agreement was signed by 195 nations, Pope Francis noted that the world was on a “suicide path". We fear the growing suicide rate among our young people, but are we listening to some of the root causes for their despair?

And, while sometimes we feel despair heavy in the air from many fronts we also see around us signs of hope and spiritual wisdom to guide us. I believe our young people are great partners in our great spiritual work we are given in this time – to address climate justice and care Our Common Home.

Joan Brown, osf, is a Franciscan Sister and the Executive Director of New Mexico Inter faith Power and Light which engages people of faith and conscience to address climate change. For more information or to get engaged, contact joan@nm-ipl.org, www.nm-ipl.org.

Joan Brown