Caritas Internationalis and its Scottish member SCIAF say that Scotland has laid down a challenge to the rest of the world by passing the most ambitious climate change legislation of any industrialised nation.

Caritas Internationalis President, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, has called for greater global leadership to ensure that people honour their moral responsibility to help the poor in these difficult economic times.

Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Knight will tell the Global Humanitarian Forum that the effects of climate change will be felt the most by the poorest who lack the resources to protect themselves.

Caritas says that poverty and suffering in Sudan’s Darfur region and in south Sudan are at such high levels there is a permanent humanitarian crisis there.

Caritas Internationalis says there is a collective failure by governments to protect women and girls in conflict situations from rape and other forms of violence and exploitation.

Caritas says alleviating the acute suffering of the poor in North Korea (DPRK) rather than military action must be key component to ending the current crisis.

Caritas is growing increasingly concerned about the impact of increasing insecurity in Pakistan and its impact on humanitarian relief operations.

Caritas is planning to help rebuild schools , community centres and houses in a long-term project following central Italy’s massive earthquake on 6th April.

Caritas is supporting 48,000 people who had been forced from their homes in Sri Lanka during fighting in the north of the country.

CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, the largest networks of Catholic development and relief agencies in the world, say UN climate change talks in Bonn will fail the poor unless they provide the tools to deal with the dire consequences of climate change.