Scottish Catholic Observer

The comments from SCIAF follow this year’s United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference, better known as COP, which took place in Madrid, Spain. Next year’s conference will be held in Glasgow.

The annual conference on the environment aims to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere in order to prevent damage to the world’s eco-system.

SCIAF representatives were present at this year’s conference, COP25, which took place from December 2-13.

Delegates this year concluded that, in the UK, millions of homes must be insulated, and fully electric cars will not solve the problem completely, and urged the government to help people walk and cycle to benefit their health and the environment.

Parish agreement

They also warned that Boris Johnson’s £28.8 billion road-building plans are incompatible with eliminating CO2 emissions.

A spokesperson for SCIAF said: “COP 25 was an opportunity for the governments of the world to finally agree on the means of implementing the Paris Agreement, which is currently the only multilateral mechanism that can protect the world from a climate catastrophe.

“The overwhelming scientific consensus shows that exceeding 1.5C of global average temperature increases will mean millions more people will be exposed to droughts, heatwaves and floods, causing unprecedented levels of forced migration and a deepening of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.”

The spokesperson added that, while COP 25 was not expected to be ‘ground-breaking’, it was a space for countries to declare ‘increased ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions’ and commit more finance to helping poorer countries recover from extreme weather events.

Unfulfilled

“In 2019, the world has seen concern over the climate issue skyrocket, thanks to the leadership of our young people, and this meant many had hoped for a strong COP 25, but these hopes were left unfulfilled,” the spokesperson said.

Asked if there were any frustrations for SCIAF surrounding this year’s conference, the spokesperson added: “It was frustrating to see big nations like the US and Australia deliberately attempt to undermine efforts to build consensus and identify solutions, and for countries to renege on the commitments they have made under the Paris Agreement.

“Next year in Glasgow, the UK must publicly stand up against such destructive short-termism. This crisis must transcend domestic political self-interest, because in the long-term, it threatens us all.”

SCIAF is currently working with Justice and Peace Scotland, the Bishops Conference of Scotland, and several other bodies to ‘shape the outcome of COP26.’

Faith

SCIAF described next year’s conference as being like the Commonwealth Games and Make Poverty History ‘rolled into one,’ highlighting that an estimated 30,000 people are set to take part in the process, with even more to come to the city during the talks.

SCIAF’s spokesperson concluded by calling upon Catholics to start discussing the issue of climate change more.

They said: “In parishes and in homes we are calling for people to engage and to reflect on why tackling climate change is key to our Catholic Faith.”