Leave in Hope: the end of the Bonn conference

Islamic Relief’s senior policy advisor Jamie Williams reflects on the highs and lows of the latest climate conference in Bonn, Germany.

Jamie Williams, Senior Policy Advisor for Islamic Relief Worldwide

The Bonn conference on climate change has come to an end. There have been few headlines for this low-key event, the little sister of the famous COPs, but one might be: Little Achieved but Hope Remains.
Islamic Relief have been very busy bringing the experience of our projects and programmes in Africa and Asia to discussions on how best to adapt to the changes in weather patterns and climate being caused by global heating.
Our big success was getting together with other organisations to create a single voice which the Climate Action Network (CAN) can use in negotiations and debates about adaptation.
Islamic Relief represented CAN in official meetings. We influenced countries to take more account of the situation and needs of people living in poverty who are most exposed and least able to react to climate challenges. We united other non-government organisations, alongside representatives of governments, in considering and acting upon these realities.
On the side-lines, we spoke at interfaith events and others led by organisations of people with disabilities. Here we helped amplify the message that responding to climate change is a moral duty to creation and the protection of future generations. We also pointed out that the response must include everyone.

Sense of urgency desperately needed

However, in participating at the conference I found the official negotiations woefully slow.
There was little sense of the urgency faced by so many people suffering now from heatwaves, floods and droughts. In order to cope as the climate crisis worsens, there needs to be big changes in systems like the United Nations. But the gap between this need for urgent transformation and what is happening in conferences is now becoming more and more obvious.
Even the country representatives at the conference were beginning to get uncomfortable.
Yet there is the hope. With evidence from the people most effected by climate threats, and their practical actions in dealing with them, there will be movement at the international level. And once the ball is rolling, it will be unstoppable.
Islamic Relief continues to support people to adapt to the climate emergency in over 20 countries and championing their cause in the international halls of power.
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