Jesuit organisations from across the world have launched a campaign for COP30, calling for debt cancellation, energy transition and food sustainability.
The campaign, Jesuits for Climate Justice: Faith in Action at COP30, involves the Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat in Rome, Jesuit European Social Centre in Brussels, Jesuítas Brasil, and Britain’s Jesuit Missions.
Inspired by the late Pope Francis’s commitment to protecting the planet, it also takes into account a recent letter from Jesuit Superior General Fr Arturo Sosa, which referenced the need to work together to care for our Common Home.
The group wants to see poorer countries’ debts wiped out, a clear path to a just energy transition established, and sustainable food sovereignty measures based on agro-ecological practices put in place.
It will campaign for these three demands to be met in the run-up to and during COP30, which is set to be held in Belem, Brazil, from 10-21 November.
Richard Solly, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer at Jesuit Missions, said: “Jesuits from around the world are working together in preparation for this year’s COP30 climate talks in Brazil.
“Climate change has already become climate emergency, and it is affecting all life on the planet.
“For many of Jesuit Missions’ partners around the world, it is causing grave difficulties for people’s agricultural livelihoods, and there is real concern that huge amounts of land will be lost to food production because of droughts, floods and sea level rises.”
There will be a Jesuit presence in Belem, as well as at the preparatory talks in Bonn, Germany, which will be held in June.
Those represented will work with other Catholic organisations from across the globe and with others who share the goal of persuading the world’s governments to take the actions necessary to avert climate catastrophe.
Mr Solly added: “We believe this is a necessary part of our faithfulness to God the Creator who, as Isaiah said, ‘did not create the earth in vain: he made it to be lived in’ and who took his creation into his own self through the Incarnation. The earth is sacred, and we must save it.”
Resources and materials will be available through Ecojesuit throughout the campaign, with all those involved, including Jesuit Missions, also sharing tools and updates.
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