by Laudato Si’ Movement | Nov 12, 2021 | Blog, News and Updates, Press | 1 comment
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
A powerful statement of expectations. Is there or will there also now be a follow-up statement to comment on the final outcomes ?
