COP 26 Prayer Points

Praise

• Praise God – for His amazing, diverse, and beautiful creation, which exists to give glory to Jesus

• Reflect – on the threat to His creation-biodiversity loss, pollution, deforestation, climate crises etc

• Lament – lay before God our lament for what is happening to His creation

Call for justice

Climate change has the greatest impact on those living in poverty

• Pray for those already suffering from droughts, floods, heat, erratic rains, rising sea levels, etc, and those at risk of being forced from their homes

• Ask God that climate-related disasters would be so deeply felt as to translate into action

• Thank God for the opportunity for 197 nations to come together at COP26. Pray that vulnerable countries will have influence and power in decision-making meetings

• Pray for a breakthrough in debt cancellation and for financial support for poorer countries 
• Pray against political and industrial interests that are opposed to the direction necessary to reduce CO2 emissions
• Just transition: pray that developing countries can prosper economically in a sustainable manner – and that transition will be made from oil and gas to other jobs

Call for Action

Prayer for successful negotiations prior to and during COP26

• Wisdom, guidance, and boldness for the UK and Alok Sharma MP as COP26 president 
• For good engagement with governments and organisations in the run-up
• For committees working in advance and for countries to prepare ambitious targets for reduction in dependence on fossil fuels
• That COP26 will result in a comprehensive agreement to reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation and resilience, and scale up finance and support
• For truth and fairness to prevail in all discussions
• For ambitious leadership, united decision-making and clear communication between countries
• For every target to have a firm action plan and for these plans to be realised with the necessary urgency

The Church

May the global church speak out and intercede for COP26

• Thank God for Christians attending COP26 as leaders and observers: pray for their influence in negotiations and their role in connecting with the wider church
• For churches to take action, for church leaders to speak out wisely and their voices to be heard
• Give thanks for Christians coming together ahead of COP26, pray for a global prayer movement to grow ahead of, and during, the conference

Glasgow as host

Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of His word and the praising of His name

• Thank the Lord for this opportunity for Glasgow to host this key event and the ~30,000 visitors to our city
• Those leading activities and services locally (churches, Tearfund, Christian Aid, YWAM, and others)
• For pilgrims walking to Glasgow and raising awareness in the media
• For engagement with visitors and those in our parish, may they know God’s heart for creation

Further information

YWAM Prayer Walk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsO-aoWBeS4

Climate Intercessors: https://www.climateintercessors.org/10-prayers-for-cop26

Tear Fund: https://www.tearfund.org/campaigns/christianity-and-climate-change-film-series 

Theology and the environment: https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-there-room-in-reformed-theology-for-environmental-concern