Background

Caritas members in rich and poor countries say that climate change is hurting the poor the most. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics are calling on their governments to take action on climate change before it’s too late.

Communities where Caritas works are bearing the worst of unpredictable weather caused by changes to our climate.

But poor people did the least to create this problem. That’s injustice. Those primarily responsible for the rise in global temperatures must accept their responsibilities in addressing this global threat.

That’s why Caritas Internationalis is working with its partners, Bishops conferences, other Catholic agencies such as the CIDSE network, and our supporters to push for an equitable climate change deal at the UN to prevent further damage.

Goals

The campaign will bring together hundreds of thousands of Catholics to call on their governments to negotiate a socially just post 2012 climate agreement.

Reaching a new deal on climate change deal will be difficult with governments concerned short-term political and economic demands.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a speech in Loreto, Italy, in 2007 said, “Before it is too late, we need to adopt courageous choices, which can recreate a strong alliance between man and the Earth.”

Difficult decisions need to be made. Unless they are the poor will pay the price for actions of the rich.