More than 60 Catholic organizations issue statement on COP26 draft agreement

As Catholics, united for our common home, we urgently ask leaders at the United Nations 26th Climate Change Conference to follow Pope Francis’ leadership in reaching a prophetic final agreement.

The science is clear: an extractive, unsustainable economy, fueled by fossil fuels, is causing the climate crisis that’s destroying God’s creation and harming the most vulnerable among us the most, those who have done little to cause the crisis.

We owe it to our poorest sisters and brothers, future generations, and all of God’s creation to seize this historic opportunity. In 2015, Pope Francis wrote in Laudato Si’ that fossil fuels need “to be progressively replaced without delay.” Now, in 2021, we have reached a decisive moment. We must reach an agreement in Glasgow that sets a clear and ambitious timeline for a just transition away from harmful fossil fuels. Setting out such a pathway is an essential step to accelerating investment in a clean energy future for all.

As Catholics, we have other priorities for the final agreement as well, including recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and keeping the commitment of 1.5 degrees. It is also essential that the final declaration reaffirms the commitment to climate finance for adaptation, as well as loss and damage.

But above all, a final agreement must deliver on a clear pathway forward to a just transition away from an extractive economy based on fossil fuels, the root cause of the climate crisis. We will continue working and praying for that prophetic outcome.

Signed  by:

Bishop John Arnold, Environment spokesperson for Bishops of England and Wales
Bishop Martin Hayes, Laudato Si’ Coordinator, Irish Episcopal Conference
Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI)
Christine Allen, Director, CAFOD
Eduardo Agosta Scarel, O. Carm., CarmeliteNGO.org
Daniel Misleh, Founder, and Jose Aguto, Executive Director, Catholic Climate Covenant
Alistair Dutton, Chief Executive, SCIAF (Caritas Scotland)
Joe Gunn, Executive Director, Centre Oblat
Josianne Gauthier, Secretary General, CIDSE
Laura Morales, Chapter Leader Citizens’ Climate Lobby Colombia
Rohan Dominic, CMF, Fondazione Proclade Internazionale, Claretian Missionaries
Sister Durstyne Farnan, OP Dominican Leadership Conference
Stefania Papa, EcoOne – Focolare Movement
Budi Tjahjono, Franciscans International
Analisa Ramsahai, Regional Programme Coordinator, The Franciscan Institute for Personal and Family Development, Caribbean
Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director, GreenFaith
Sr Ann Marie Quinn, International Presentation Association
Michel Roy, Justice et Paix France
Br. Angelito Cortez, OFM, Vice Director, OFM-JPIC General Cura office
Sr Sheila Kinsey, FCJM, JPIC Commission USG-UISG
Jessica Gatty r.a., JPIC co-ordinator, Religious of the Assumption Europe
Sr Maureen O’ Connell, JPIC, Diocese of Kerry, Ireland
Dr. Garry Carville, Irish Council for Justice and Peace
Steeven Kezamutima, Program Manager ,JPIC-Franciscans Africa
Anja Appel, Director, KOO / Austria
Marvie L. Misolas, MM Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic/Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Angela Reed rsm, Head, Mercy Global Action, Mercy International Association
Amy Echeverria, Missionary Society of St. Columban (International)
Paul Southgate, Chair, National Justice and Peace Network for England and Wales
Lorna Gold, President, and Tomas Insua, Executive Director, Laudato SI’ Movement
Fr. Santiago González, OFM, MLS – Colombia
Tra-my Nguyen, Young Adult Ministry Project Worker, Religious of the Assumption
Marianne Comfort, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Teresa Kotturan SCN, Sisters of Charity Federation
Frank McCann, CSJP-A, Peace thru Justice Facilitator, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Sr Susanna Choi, Congregational Leader of the Missionary Sisters of St Columban
Darlene O’Leary, Martha Justice Ministry, Sisters of St. Martha, Antigonish, NS, Canada
Michelle Loisel DC, Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul
Dr. Mark Hathaway, Executive Director, Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice, Canada
Thomas Pallithanam, Salesian Missions
Xavier Jeyaraj SJ, Secretary, SJES – Rome (Society of Jesus)
Sylvia Thompson, St John’s Care of Creation , Tralee, Kerry, Ireland.
Caoimhe de Barra, Chief Executive Officer, Trócaire
Miguel Ángel Velasco López cmf, Misionero Claretiano. Equipo cmf ante la ONU
Maria Lourdes Santos SSpS, VIVAT International
Dr Austen Ivereigh, Campion Hall, University of Oxford
Sr. Judith Bell, President, Franciscan Sisters of Mary
Allen Ottaro, CEO, CYNESA
Sr. Amarachi Grace Ezeonu, NGO Representative – Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the UN
Sr. Sue Wilson, CSJ, Executive Director, Office for Systemic Justice, Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Lina Sedano Rodríguez – Coordinator Laudato SI’ Movement Chapter Colombia
Rosa María Berrío Herazo, Animadora Laudato SI’ Córdoba, Colombia.
Emilia Sena Coordinadora del Equipo de Solidaridad y Misión de los Misioneros Claretianos de America. SOMICLA
Mark Campanale, London
Luke Henkel, Laudato Si Generation
Susan Gunn, Director Maryknoll Office for Global Concern.
Stephen Makagutu, Laudato Si Movement- Africa
Fr. Dermot Lane, co-chair Laudato Si Working Group, Irish Episcopal Conference
Henry Ramirez Soler cmf equipo Claretiano ante la ONU
Joan Atkinson, CSJ in Canada, Office for Systemic Justice
Rodne R. Galicha, Living Laudato Si’ Philippines
Sister Margo Ritchie, Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada
Fr. Francis J Breen, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Leah Watkiss, Chair, Joint Ecological Ministry (JEM)
Dr. Garry Carville, Irish Council for Justice and Peace