Catholic climate and environment groups from across the globe have called on rich nations to offer financial support to countries vulnerable to climate change during an ongoing climate conference in Bonn, Germany.
The groups from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas called for stronger global action to tackle the climate crisis, including a faster transition away from fossil fuels.
The remarks were made at a June 8 press conference hosted by the Network of Catholic Climate and Environment Actors (NCCEA) on the sidelines of the 64th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
“We seek to place human dignity, solidarity, ecological integrity, and care for our common home at the center of climate action,” said Winnie Naluvoa, advocacy assistant at the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity, an umbrella network of Catholic social justice organizations based in Europe and North America.
Antonio Yairatokokuvi of the International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements said adaptation remains underfunded despite growing climate impacts.
“Adaptation should be treated in equal measure as mitigation. More finance should be channeled towards adaptation,” he said.
He argued that adaptation policies should be measured by how much they improve resilience for communities rather than by technical procedures alone.
Budi Tjahjono of Franciscans International said climate negotiations must place human rights at the center of discussions on a just transition.
“The transition away from fossil fuels should not widen the injustices and inequalities that have taken place from the fossil fuel era,” he said.
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