Around 120 world leaders, tens of thousands of delegates and hundreds of climate activists gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for the U.N. climate conference known as COP26, scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 12. (EarthBeat photo/Brian Roewe)
We say: Protecting the environment for future generations and ensuring equitable solutions for those most vulnerable to climate change are matters of justice on which Catholics must speak and act in the follow-up to COP26.
Commentary: The climate crisis is already with us. We don't have even one more year to find solutions. Which leads us to hope. Catholics in the United States and around the globe are standing together in faith to develop the tools we need.
The U.N. climate summit COP26 took some steps forward in the global effort to rapidly limit dangerous levels of warming, but not nearly enough or fast enough, say Catholic groups who were present in Glasgow throughout the two-week conference.
All sectors of the church are invited to participate in the Laudato Si' Action Platform, the Vatican-backed initiative to encourage concrete action on sustainability and climate change. Based on Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on care for creation, it aims to spark a cultural shift away from exploitation of the planet and its resources.
While COP26 is coming to a close, the work does not end, especially for faith communities involved in the fight against climate change, said Iyad Abumoghli, director of the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Among the voices at COP26 who are most impacted by climate change, Indigenous leaders are speaking out about solutions they have proposed to stem global warming in ways that won't destroy their lands and livelihoods.
In a video message, bishops from the Amazon region hope to mobilize society and pressure the Brazilian government and others at the U.N. climate change conference to adopt concrete and urgent measures to protect the rainforest.
See the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice through the eyes of Catholics who marched in Glasgow at the midpoint of the United Nations climate summit.
The movement fighting climate change knows no denominational boundaries. Faith leaders see it as part of their mandate to care for communities most vulnerable to climate change and preserve what they see as a divinely given environment.
As world leaders gather for COP26 to discuss the best way to tackle climate change, leaders of the world's religions want to make sure some voices aren't lost in the crowd: namely, the voices of Indigenous peoples from the Arctic to the Equator.
Billions of dollars and a bevy of new commitments from countries to move away from fossil fuels are promising developments that will depend on the details, say Catholics at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow.
Listen: Heidi, Father Daniel and David discuss the start of COP26, President Joe Biden's audience with Pope Francis, and the slow steps toward approving a COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds.
In a written message, Pope Francis called on world leaders assembled at COP26 to demonstrate "political will" and stop deferring the action required to avert the worst catastrophes of climate change.
As the climate conference begins, pilgrims and representatives of many world religions call for climate justice and for countries to sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Catholic development agencies, religious congregations and the Vatican say the climate change summit known as COP26 is crucial to the international effort to limit the planet's rising temperatures. The conference in Glasgow, Scotland will urge nearly 200 countries to commit to substantial, short-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
COP26, the U.N. climate change summit, is set to begin in 17 days. According to Catholics who will be at the conference, there are many reasons why people of faith should pay attention to the proceedings.
Nearly 40 religious leaders call for governments to cut emissions and aid poorer countries, while pledging that their congregations will take action, too.
