Church leaders in the Global South have issued a remarkably forthright statement on the environment – an exciting development for those calling for climate justice, including Jesuit Missions.
The Episcopal Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar launched a hard-hitting report this week, demanding clear and urgent action over climate change.
The 34-page letter, entitled ‘A Call for Climate Justice and the Common Home: Ecological Conversion, Transformation and Resistance to False Solutions’, makes it clear that Catholics should “not remain silent” when it comes to climate action.
It supports the views of the Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign group, which attended the recent climate talks in Bonn and is working towards COP30 in Belém later this year.
The letter states: “At COP30, we demand that States take transformative action based on human dignity, the common good, solidarity and social justice, prioritising the most vulnerable, including our sister Mother Earth.”
It calls for defined timelines for the transition away from coal, and gas to renewable alternatives, an end to new fossil fuel projects, and for those in the industry to face higher taxes.
“We reject false solutions such as ‘green’ capitalism, technocracy, the commodification of nature, and extractivism, which perpetuate exploitation and injustice.”
The statement also suggests richer nations should accept responsibility for their contribution to the climate crisis, and the impact this has had on communities in the Global South.
“We demand that rich countries recognise and assume their social and ecological debt as the main historical actors responsible for extracting natural resources and emitting greenhouse gases; and commit to fair, accessible and effective climate finance that does not generate more debt, in order to recover existing losses and damages in the Global South,” it reads.
However, the Bishops warn against “false solutions” such as some carbon offsetting measures and the mining of minerals for cleaner energy.
They note: “We reject false solutions such as ‘green’ capitalism, technocracy, the commodification of nature, and extractivism, which perpetuate exploitation and injustice.”
The Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign, which is backed by Jesuit Missions, is calling on leaders at COP30 to cancel the debts of poorer countries, establish a clear path to a just energy transition, and ensure sustainable food sovereignty measures based on agro-ecological practices.
It has welcomed the Bishops’ statement, with Richard Solly, Campaigns and Advocacy Officer at Jesuit Missions, describing it as “essential reading for all working towards climate justice”.
Click here to read the full report.
More news
‘Clear his name!’ – Jesuit Missions holds vigil outside Indian High Commission for Fr Stan Swamy SJ
Jesuit Missions joins thousands of others in campaigning for climate action at Mass Lobby of Parliament
SB62 Bonn climate conference report: some progress, but much more needs to be done
