Climate Justice: Catholics unite as campaign launches
![Rt Rev John Rawsthorne (right), Bishop of Hallam, UK walks through the Peak District & Rt Rev Martin Kivuva Musonde Bishop of Machakos, Kenya walks through Machakos countryside. This image represents the need for rich countries’ solidarity with developing nations on the issue of climate change. Each bishop walks in God’s Creation - the environment that must be protected from the damaging impacts of climate change, both in developing and developed countries [Andy Aitchison/Thomas Omondi]](/var/storage/images/get-involved/take-action/climate/images/bishops-walk-towards-each-other/1015602-3-eng-GB/bishops-walk-towards-each-other.jpg)
Rich countries’ greed threatens millions says CAFOD director on launch of Climate Justice campaign
The greed that underpins many developed countries’ economies and personal lifestyles is pushing the world’s poorest to the edge of existence, says CAFOD director Chris Bain.
Emissions-heavy lifestyles, government policy and industry practices in rich countries are changing the composition of the atmosphere with potentially catastrophic outcomes that will hit those living in poverty first and worst.
Unacceptable vulnerability
Chris Bain says: "The massive over-consumption of rich nations is having a direct affect on the climate in the developing world.
"Many of the world’s poorest are already living with a changing climate which is driving their precarious lives to a level of vulnerability that is unacceptable.
"While we in the UK are being encouraged to spend our way out of recession, millions of poor people are trying to keep themselves alive in areas of desperately degraded land while trying to cope with climatic extremes."
Working with a coalition of Catholic agencies, our new Climate Justice campaign brings UK Catholics together with more than 1.3bn Catholics from all over the world.
Together we are calling on global leaders to negotiate a just and equitable agreement at this year’s UN climate change talks in Copenhagen.
CAFOD and its supporters are also calling on the UK government to take the lead among EU countries in this crucial year leading up to Copenhagen, the outcomes of which could determine the fate of millions of people around the world.
Chris Bain adds: "Developing countries bear the brunt of climate change and yet have done the least to cause it.
"It is time for all of us to live simply and in solidarity with the world’s poorest, and this year could be the best chance we have to halt the devastating impacts of climate change on them.
"We must call on our governments to protect the most vulnerable people in the world – it is vital for their survival."
Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, spoke at our Climate Justice campaign launch in London.
He said: "Climate change is the result of human behaviour and we must all take responsibility for our actions by taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint.
"The UK target to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 will set us on the right path - however, it's only through getting a robust global agreement in Copenhagen that we can truly tackle dangerous climate change in a way that is fair to this planet and to communities across the world.
"And I am determined to pursue that ambition."
Changes in climate are already affecting people’s lives across the world. In Cambodia, irregular rainfall is affecting rice cultivation; women have to spend more of their valuable time fetching water due to shortages during the dry season, while increased flooding during the wet season is leading to environmental and social damage.
At the same time vast swathes of Cambodia's forests are rapidly disappearing due to illegal logging driven by demand for products in developed countries.
Climate expert Lay Sophea works with us on forestry and indigenous rights projects in Cambodia, and has witnessed the impact recent changes in climate is having on poor communities.
Lay says: "Global temperatures are rising, rainfall patterns are changing, natural disasters are increasing, and our communities are experiencing the consequences. We are here in solidarity with CAFOD and the launch of their campaign.
"And we hope we can raise awareness about how our country is being affected severely by changes in climate and urge people in the UK and across the world to work together to fight climate change."
Media: For more information, case studies, hi-res images & interviews, contact Pascale Palmer, ppalmer@cafod.org.uk +44 20 7095 5459, +44 7785 950 585
We want a global climate change deal that puts the world’s poorest people at its heart by:
- Helping people flourish in developing countries by supporting their right to sustainable development. The poorest have done least to cause climate change, they should not be the ones who pay the price.
- Providing necessary support for developing countries – who are hit first and hardest by climate change – to adapt to the impacts of extreme weather. This includes additional aid for adaptation, as well as access to clean, green technology. Industrialised countries must provide US$195 billion each year by 2020 on top of existing aid pledges.
- Tackling the root causes of the problem by cutting emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Industrialised countries must commit to more than 40 per cent cuts, based on 1990 levels, by 2020.
