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
Thursday 1 June
It’s the fourth day of the UN plastics treaty negotiations in Paris. Delegates have now moved to breakout groups where they will start working on the details of what will be included in the first draft of the treaty.
Please pray with us.
- Now that the discussions have moved into working groups, pray that many delegates will speak up for justice and ensure the treaty works for those most impacted by plastic pollution.
- With today being crunch time for decisions, pray that our messages and the conversations Tearfund activists are having with delegates will have real impact in delivering a good treaty.
- Pray that we can support the waste pickers we work with in making interjections and having their voices heard.
- Plastic polluters and fossil fuel companies are at the talks with a large number of lobbyists. Pray that negotiators will not be swayed by these lobbying attempts, but would unite around reducing plastic production.
Amen.
In case you missed it, here’s what is happening at the UN talks and you can find out more on our Rubbish Campaign page.
Past prayers
Wednesday 31 May
We’re now on the third day of the second round of the UN global plastics treaty talks in Paris. The negotiations are beginning to progress and we’ve seen our work with waste pickers bear some fruit.
Please join us in prayer.
- Praise God for the panel event Tearfund helped organise with the International Alliance of Waste Pickers yesterday. Thank God for the many governments who attended and heard directly from waste pickers on the panel.
- Give thanks also for the growing momentum we’re now seeing from governments supporting the inclusion of justice, especially for waste pickers, as a core part of this treaty.
- Thank God that Dr Tiwonge, a campaigner from Malawi who is joining our Tearfund team in Paris, has had many opportunities to speak to the media. Pray for more media coverage, that the stories of those most impacted by plastic pollution would be heard.
- The negotiations had been stuck in administrative matters but have now begun to progress. Pray that we’ll now be able to engage delegates on our main issues and ensure that those most impacted by plastic pollution are at the centre of the talks.
Tuesday 30 May
The second round of global plastics treaty negotiations (INC-2) kicked off in Paris yesterday and the Tearfund team on the ground have been observing the proceedings.
Please pray for the events with us.
- Pray that the negotiations move on to more substantive issues quickly. For much of the day yesterday and into this morning the talks have been held up by administrative aspects of the INC process itself. With plastic pollution already impacting people’s lives across the world, the negotiations need to move on to the main body of the treaty soon in order to make progress towards an agreement that will help put an end to the plastic pollution crisis.
- Also today, we are supporting our allies from the International Alliance of Waste Pickers to hold a panel event pushing for justice to be at the heart of the treaty. There are several governments speaking, alongside waste pickers, and it’s a big opportunity to influence the other governments who are here. We really want this treaty to ensure that the human rights of waste pickers are respected – at the moment they collect most of the plastic that is recycled globally but receive very low pay and work in dangerous conditions. Pray that the right people attend, all the logistics come together and that the event has a positive impact on the direction of the negotiations.
Wednesday 24 May
With the second round of negotiations for the global plastics treaty (INC-2) starting next week, Tearfund commissioned research has shown the impact that plastic pollution is having on people living in poverty.
Please join us in praying for those impacted.
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Pray for the 218 million people globally who are at risk of more frequent and severe flooding due to plastic pollution. 41 million of these are young children, older people and people living with disabilities, who are at particularly high risk of the severe health impacts caused by flooding. Pray for safety and security for these communities as they deal with the effects of the plastic pollution crisis.
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As negotiations draw closer, pray that people from the most affected communities will have their voices heard by negotiators. Concerning last-minute changes to access to the talks will impact those from most affected communities hardest, so pray that colleagues from Tearfund and other organisations will know how to best amplify their vital contributions.
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Finally, pray that those negotiating the treaty will understand the impact plastic pollution is having on people living in poverty, and that they will ensure their rights and wellbeing are protected by the treaty.
