Notes from Paris - Day Two at the climate summit

Keeping my head warm in Paris.

Well, the United Nations climate summit known as COP21 is under way here in Paris, with world leaders speaking first to kick off the negotiations.

Eleven governments today, Monday, pledged nearly 250 million U.S. dollars towards support for vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change, and the ACT Alliance - for whom I am acting as an ambassador - said in a statement today that this signals hope for an ambitious agreement that will secure the planet’s future.

Notes from the climate summit in Paris - Sunday

Here at the United Nations climate summit, COP21, in Paris, I spoke to a representative of African pilgrims who covered 6,000 miles cycling across nine countries, collecting signatures calling on the world's leaders to deliver climate justice.

Nearly 2 million people lobby against global warming

At COP21, the UN climate summit in Paris, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba joined other members of the international ecumenical grouping, the ACT Alliance, in handing over petitions signed by 1,7 million people, urging political leaders to take decisive action to curb global warming and deliver a strong, fair deal that helps poor countries adapt to their changing climate.

In the photo below with Archbishop Thabo is Christiana Figueres, who as executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is the UN's top official dealing with the issue.

Photo: Sean Hawkey/WCC

From Paris, Archbishop calls for climate change agreement

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, in Paris for the UN climate change conference, has called for an agreement to be reached at the talks which promotes renewable energy, helps people to adapt to climate change and where that is not possible, to give them assistance to mitigate its effects.

AUDIO: Archbishop Thabo's reflections on Advent I

Archbishop Thabo is again delivering a series of reflections on each Sunday in Advent. Listen to his first reflection on the Gospel reading for Advent 1, below:

A Charred Cross of Redemption - To the Laos - To the People of God

Dear People of God

Charred Cross.

Whew! What a rushed few weeks, travelling to meet commitments in Johannesburg, Lesotho, London, then back to South Africa to talk to protesting students, then to Washington, back to Swaziland and finally, unexpectedly, to the Diocese of Umzimvubu.

Let me start with the news that fire has devastated Umzimvubu's diocesan centre at Glenthorne farm, outside Kokstad, on the very day the Diocesan Council was meeting to plan the way ahead under the interim leadership of Bishop Sitembele Mzamane of Mthatha, who is Vicar-General while the future of Bishop Mlibo Ngewu is decided.

Tribute to a pioneering priest - the Revd Canon Nancy Charton - 1920-2015

On behalf of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, its bishops, clergy and people, I send our condolences and prayers to the family of the Revd Canon Nancy Charton, who died in Graaff Reinet yesterday at the age of 95.

Fire destroys Umzimvubu buildings - Letter to the Bishops

Property destroyed by fire at the Diocese of Umzimvubu.

Subject: Diocese of Umzimvubu

Dear Bishops and Colleagues

I write to ask for your continued prayers on the issues of the Diocese of Umzimvubu.

On Bishop Bernard Mkhabela / Drought in Swaziland

A sermon preached in the Diocese of Swaziland:

'Cathedrals as Institutions of Education'

An address delivered to the Conference of Deans and Senior Priests, held in the Diocese of Swaziland: