The climate crisis can no longer be denied. Its most severe effects are felt in countries where extreme weather devastates communities, rising sea levels threaten coastal regions, and ecosystem collapse jeopardizes livelihoods.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns of “a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.” This crisis demands immediate and decisive actions, and COP30 is a critical event for the global community in addressing the climate emergency.
In the spirit of the Jubilee of Hope, we call upon all people of goodwill to advocate for a just and sustainable future, urging delegates to COP30 and governments to:
- Cancel the debt of underdeveloped countries and strengthen the Loss and Damage Fund. Unjust and unpayable debts from underdeveloped nations should be cancelled so that resources could be free for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, and a grant-based Loss and Damage Fund must provide adequate resources to address the devastating impacts of climate change.
- Accelerate agreements and set targets for a Just Energy Transition to reduce CO2 emissions. A Just Energy Transition should consider historical responsibilities, respect Indigenous rights, value nature, and prioritize sustainable livelihoods over profit-driven models.
- Set concrete targets to build a Global Food Sovereignty System based on agroecological practices. A system that promotes culturally adapted modes of production, transformation, distribution, and food consumption, applying ecological principles to agriculture.
The COP process is imperative for making international progress on the climate crisis. Pope Francis stated, “It is a matter of establishing global and effective rules that can permit ‘providing for’ this global safeguarding” (LD, 42).
Let us heed this call and work together to build a world where all “may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Policy Brief
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We request concrete actions to save the Planet. Earth is our home. Put ecology first not selfish. Live for the moment commercial values
Africa echoes this call with gratitude and a sense of urgency.
We thank Ecojustice for the leadership and clarity as we prepare for SB62 and COP30. In Africa, we experience firsthand the devastating effects of climate injustice. The energy transition, though necessary, is not neutral: mining for transition minerals is destroying ecosystems, displacing communities, and fueling armed conflicts across our continent.
As Jesuits in Africa and Madagascar, inspired by the fourth Universal Apostolic Preference and Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, we emphasize that climate justice must entail just processes, where the dignity, rights, and voices of our people are protected. A proverb from our land reminds us: “Quand les éléphants se battent, c’est l’herbe qui souffre.” (“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”) In the global energy race, Africa must not be stepped on.
May Ecojustice’s work always be guided by truth, courage, and the voice of the poor and the earth. Please be assured of our solidarity and prayers.
Fr. José Minaku, SJ
JCAM