The Conference of the Parties (COP 29) is an annual gathering of world leaders to address climate issues. In many ways, this year’s event, held in oil-rich Azerbaijan, was disappointing. More than 1,000 oil lobbyists attended, often dominating the discussions. One outcome was that wealthy countries agreed to provide 300 billion dollars annually in funding to help less developed countries address the effects of climate change. Developing nations, however, had sought $1 trillion in assistance, called the agreement “insulting,” and argued it did not provide them with the vital resources they needed to address the complexities of the climate crisis.

One positive highlight of the conference was The first-ever Faith Pavilion at a UN Climate Change Conference hosted by the Muslim Council of Elders in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and a diverse coalition of global partners including the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, the Episcopal Diocese of California, the International Partnership on Religion and Development (PaRD), the Peace Department, and over 50 faith organizations. Pope Francis had planned to come to the Faith Pavilion for an inaugural session but was unable to attend in person and gave a video address instead. For more information about this initiative, visit www.faithpavilion.com.