“Healthy Planet, Healthy People” is the rallying cry of Catholics fighting against climate change. The goal of the campaign is to collect signatures for a petition that will be presented to political leaders participating in the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in October and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November, which Pope Francis hopes to attend.
“Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence and numerous national declarations of climate and ecological emergencies,” says the letter, “world leaders have yet to act commensurate with the scientific and moral urgency.”
ANTONIO A. GARRIDO SALCEDO
Coordinator for Spain, Global Catholic Climate Movement
“There's the matter of addressing the climate emergency, what's happening in the world now in terms of climate change and biodiversity. There's also the matter of stopping the global temperature from rising, of committing to not letting it rise by another 1.5 degrees. Then there's the defense of human rights, and finally, taking effective global action.”
Although Pope Francis has been especially outspoken about climate change throughout his pontificate, Garrido Salcedo points out that his predecessors, including Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI were also strong advocates for the environment.
ANTONIO A. GARRIDO SALCEDO
Coordinator for Spain, Global Catholic Climate Movement
“What happens is that Pope Francis brings a new charism, a new light. And his 'Laudato si'' encyclical gives a renewed sense of urgency to the issue. This message that we should consciously listen to the cry of the poor, the cry of the earth, and that we should understand that there's a very relevant and significant message, which is that everything is connected, and that we have the capacity and the opportunity to intervene.”
Getting people to intervene in the environmental emergency is precisely what the Global Catholic Climate Movement and other Catholic organizations aim to do with this campaign. And although it was primarily intended for Catholics, everyone is welcome to sign the letter.
ANTONIO A. GARRIDO SALCEDO
Coordinator for Spain, Global Catholic Climate Movement
“As Mother Teresa used to say, the ocean would be incomplete without our drop of water. We have a lot to contribute. All this action against climate change in development would be incomplete if we didn't all do our part.”
Now Catholics and all people of good will can contribute their drop of water to the cause by signing the petition at www.thecatholicpetition.org
CT
Global Catholic Climate Movement
