Ahead of COP26: Raise your voice for a Healthy Planet

By Sebastian Salaske-Lentern, 27 October 2021
Image: Laudato Si Movement/Supplied

 

In just less than a week, the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference will kick off in Glasgow, UK. It is the 5-year follow-up (delayed by COVID-19) to the famous COP21 conference of Paris in 2015. From 31 October to 12 November, governments from around the world will have to commit to more ambitious climate action and emission reductions. Otherwise, the central target of the Paris Agreement may move out of reach: limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

You can reach out to our Australian and international leaders who will attend the COP26 Climate Change Conference and ask them for strong leadership and bold climate commitments. You can do this by signing the Catholic “Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition” at thecatholicpetition.org

The petition asks them to:

  • Tackle the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis together.
  • Limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and promise no more biodiversity loss.
  • Ensure equitable global action, including support for those most affected.
  • Protect and respect human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in climate and biodiversity action.

The petition has been initiated by the global Laudato Si’ Movement and has been endorsed by the Vatican. The organisers explain that with COP26, we “have an opportunity like no other. It is our responsibility as Catholics to lift up the voices of the most vulnerable and advocate on their behalf”.

The Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition links in with Pope Francis’ strong climate advocacy as well as recent calls for more climate action by global Catholic leaders and local Australian faith-initiatives.

RELATED: Catholic Leaders call for action on Climate Change ahead of International Summits

RELATED: Ahead of COP26: Diocese of Parramatta and St Patrick’s Cathedral call for bold climate action by 2030

You can read the full petition letter here and find more details about COP26 here.

Sebastian Salaske-Lentern is the Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator for the Diocese of Parramatta.

 

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