By Angelique Walker-Smith
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10).
What a timely “herstoric”/ historic period we are in as we welcome the seasons of Advent and Christmas. In November, the G20 was held for the first time in Africa—South Africa. Also in November, the COP30 was held for the first time in Brazil, the second most populous place of African peoples after Nigeria. Both invited inclusive voices and processes locally, nationally and globally. The G20 represents 85 percent of the world’s gross domestic product and two-thirds of the world’s population. COP30 includes 198 parties (countries and the European Union).
These forums brought lamentations and outcries from the people to save the planet from the devastation of climate change and from a life that is increasingly unsustainable and inequitable for many people of color. This includes indigenous and Afro-descendent communities who have been and are disproportionately affected—especially in places like Africa and small island states, as well as in siloed communities in other countries.
I took part in both of these timely multilateral conferences and I bring good tidings of a renewed vision of economic and environmental order. I was inspired by the Gender Action Plan (promoting the leadership of Indigenous people, African and Afro-descendants, and rural women) and “The Mutirão Decision” that furthers a global mobilization against climate change—acknowledging the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
Both documents are potential game changers, with more equitable plans of sustaining and promoting life. Both map a way forward to end hunger with a vision of solidarity of the “global north” and “global south.” This, despite the disappointment of some negotiations that did not reach a final resolution.
Still, a stubborn question haunts us: How much will G20 and COP30 members and partners actually invest and re-invest—not only with financial capital but with sustained social capital? Will those members generate buy-in from their stakeholders?
The G20 comes to the United States in 2026 during the 250th anniversary of the birth of this country and the COP30 goes to Turkey and Ethiopia in 2027. Those disproportionately affected by debt, climate change, conflict and hunger will keep showing up and will keep asking the stubborn questions.
During this Advent season, when we remember the good news of Jesus coming to us as a baby, we also remember the government did not embrace him. But the holy family, shepherds, wise men and angels did. Further, Joseph paid his taxes to the Roman government despite having to flee to Egypt from the government that sought to take his child. As people of faith, today we too are called to embrace Jesus again, engage government leadership, advancing tidings of advocacy actions that bring good news to all.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the AFRO.