Using the listening circle method for the 2025 COP Animators Circle 

by For the Love of Creation (FLC),
a faith-based initiative for Climate Justice that the Jesuit Forum is a part of.

For the Love of Creation’s Animators Circle is a space for people who follow the proceedings of the COP30 meetings (a global meeting of world leaders to discuss the climate crisis) to discuss promotion of COP-related prayer, advocacy and solidarity with partners and delegates from FLC-related groups that are attending the meetings in-person. Often, Animators are colleagues and friends of COP delegates, or past delegates, or people of goodwill connected with FLC connected or adjacent initiatives such as the Jubilee campaign. Animators commit, as they are able, to participate in three meetings (before, during and after COP), to promoting or hosting Candles for COP initiatives and amplifying partner’s voices.  

This year, approximately a dozen people signed up to be Animators. 

The pre-COP meeting was a chance to connect and share ideas and information for engagement with COP-related events.

The second meeting was a deeply-appreciated time for connection with partners and staff attending COP in person. Animators were able to connect with COP delegates from KAIROS, The United Church of Canada, and the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology to hear about delegates’ experiences. 

The final meeting focused on using a listening circle method for Animators to share and reflect together about their experiences of COP this year (attending COP or following it, listening to the delegation with this group, holding vigils, marching... Reactions to the progress or lack of progress etc). Animators reflected on the range of emotional responses. One Animator reflected “we need hope!” and spoke about where they had found nourishment and encouragement during the COP meetings; the theme of needing hope, and where people find it, was shared throughout the final debriefing call. 

Everyone who expressed appreciation for the time together. 

Among the initiatives shared about COP-related solidarity events were: Candles for COP vigils in 7 places, sharing postings from delegates during the event, communicating with elected officials, sharing personal reflections/information about COP.

 

For more information on For the Love of Creation, visit https://fortheloveofcreation.ca/