At the recent COP28 climate conference, partners of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform supported Pope Francis by calling for a just end to the fossil fuel era and for climate justice.
Catholic Institutions Call for End to Fossil Fuel Use
14 Catholic organizations, including Catholic Relief Services and Laudato Si’ Movement, urged the COP28 negotiators to hear the words of the Holy Father and end fossil fuel use in a letter to COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber.
The letter was presented in an official event with Mons. Lizardo Estrada Herra, Secretary General of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Latin America (CELAM); Father Jean Germain Rajoelison, Deputy Secretary General of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); Archbishop Peter Chong of Fiji, Tzeporah Berman, International Program Director at Stand.earth; and Lorna Gold, Board President of Laudato Si’ Movement. The event was moderated by Lindlyn Moma, Laudato Si’ Movement director of advocacy.
Watch the event presenting the letter here, and read the text of the letter here.
New Standards for Faith Institutions
The Science-Based Targets initiative released a new set of standards for faith-based institutions to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions. These standards join the highly successful and widely used guidelines for business and government. The standards were presented in an event at the Faith Pavilion.
World Resources Institute, a key convener of the Science-Based Targets, monitored critical issues and expected outcomes throughout the conference. Their Resource Hub offers information on the negotiations along with news and events.
Action in the Americas
Catholic Climate Covenant, a member of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform’s Parishes and Dioceses Working Group, created the “My Laudate Deum Action Pledge,” inviting members of the U.S. Catholic community to pledge to specific, impactful actions to foster a culture shift and improve the future of our common home. You can commit to the pledge now.
Catholic Climate Covenant also created a letter addressed to President Biden, Secretary Yellen, and Special Envoy Kerry, urging them to represent the interests of all creation and the most vulnerable by incorporating topics of climate finance and international debt relief into the agenda at COP 28.
Laudato Si’ Movement’s US advocacy working group issued a statement to President Biden and Envoy Kerry, available here, and Laudato Si’ Movement’s Canada regional members issued a statement to Ambassador Stewart, here.
Action in Europe
COMECE, the Jesuit European Social Centre, and the European Laudato Si’ Alliance, hosted a conference titled “The New Laudate Deum of Pope Francis and the EU’s Green Transition”. The discussions focused on what the follow-up to Laudato Si’ means for the climate and environmental policies of the European Union.
Climate Finance
FaithInvest CEO Lorna Gold opened Finance Day at the Faith Pavilion with an address on the need for finance to support the most vulnerable nations and, in particular, for faith institutions to align their investments with their values.
These efforts highlight the continuous commitment of the Catholic community to supporting the Holy Father and protecting our common home.