Thank you for praying with us for the climate crisis, justice and restoration for those living in poverty. Our SMS alerts will let you know when we have updated the prayer prompt here to inspire your prayers.
Today's prayer
Monday 11 December
As negotiations enter the final stages at the UN climate summit in Dubai, this is a crucial time to pray for the outcome of the talks.
Please pray with us.
- The current draft text is a missed opportunity to commit to phasing out fossil fuels which is key for a safer future. Please pray that negotiators will do what needs to be done right now in the final hours of COP28 to accelerate the clean energy transition, and that vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of the climate crisis will be at the heart of the outcome.
- Pray that the voluntary pledge made by more than 120 countries to triple renewable energy is included in the final decision text, and is fairly and fully implemented.
- Climate-vulnerable communities need much more finance for adaptation and loss and damage. Pray that more progress is made on climate finance for the people least responsible and most affected by the climate crisis.
Amen.
Thank you for praying with us. Keep an eye on the Tearfund Action X account for an update on the outcome of the talks in the coming days.
Past prayers
Wednesday 6 December
As we approach the second week of the UN climate summit in Dubai, join us in lifting up the negotiations.
Please pray with us.
- As negotiators continue their discussions, pray that commitment to a fair and funded phase-out of fossil fuels is included in the final agreement.
- Pray too that the voluntary pledge made by more than 100 countries to triple renewable energy is included in the formal agreement by all governments, and that the commitments made during these talks transform the lives of those suffering the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
- Pray that the voices of marginalised and indigenous groups would be heard as they speak up about the impact of climate change on their communities.
- Thank God that Tearfund campaigners and spokespeople have had lots of media opportunities. Pray that their stories would continue to be heard as they call for climate justice for people living in poverty.
- Finally, pray for the Tearfund team in Dubai – for health and energy as they continue to lobby and speak up, and for safe travels for some members of the team returning home tomorrow.
Monday 4 December
It’s now the fifth day of the UN climate summit (COP28) in Dubai. Over the weekend the World Climate Action Summit came to a close, where we saw some good signals in energy announcements, as well as some hollow distractions.
Now we’re into the hard work on the draft negotiation texts and this is where there are important opportunities for COP28 to make progress on climate justice for people living in poverty.
Please join us in prayer.
- Pray for the thousands of people working on the draft negotiation texts, that they will keep justice for those most impacted by the climate crisis at the heart of their discussions.
- Pray for church leaders at the Faith Pavilion (a space for faith-based engagement at the talks) as they speak out about our need to restore broken relationships with creation and each other. Ask God to use their words powerfully, that they will influence negotiators to remember the devastating impact of climate change on people living in poverty and push for a safer, fairer future for all.
- Thank God that many countries have been contributing to the loss and damage fund. Ask that more wealthy nations will commit to new funding to help meet the scale of damage caused by the climate crisis.
- Pray that negotiating teams commit to reducing carbon emissions and averting the worst of the climate crisis by pushing for a fair and funded phase out of all fossil fuels.
Thursday 30 November
COP28 begins today! Tearfund staff and campaigners are at the UN climate summit in Dubai, which is scheduled to run until 12 December. They’ll be calling for climate finance to be delivered to vulnerable nations who are bearing the brunt of the climate emergency, and for a commitment to a fair and funded phase-out of all fossil fuels.
Please join us in covering the next two weeks in prayer. We’ll send regular updates to guide your prayers, starting with these prayer points for today…
- Pray that wealthy nations will step up to their responsibilities and help communities adapt to a crisis they didn’t cause. Pray that they will deliver more than words and good intentions, but genuine progress on climate finance, and agreement to phase out fossil fuels.
- As King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are due to speak at the summit in the coming days, pray they will have boldness and integrity, and that they will be convicted to turn their words into actions.
- Pray for the faith leaders attending the summit, that their call for justice for those most impacted by the climate crisis will be heard and that God will speak powerfully through them.
- Today, countries including the UK made initial pledges for the loss and damage fund (which was agreed at COP27). This is an important step forward – but we need to see wealthy nations contribute billions, not millions, of new, not repurposed funding. Pray that wealthy nations step up to their responsibilities and commit new funding to meet the scale of the damage caused by the climate crisis.
