COP29 Azerbaijan

We need to listen to what birds have to say — to preach — to us and how it is we who need an "ecological conversion." An important part of this conversion will be safeguarding species in danger of extinction.

Debate about how much money countries should direct toward addressing climate change has overlooked the massive spending on weapons and wars, say faith activists at  the U.N. climate conference in Azerbaijan. 

As the U.N. climate change conference reached the halfway point, faith groups appealed for countries to set an ambitious new target to finance the transition to clean energy and adaptation measures for a rapidly warming world.

Donald Trump's looming return has cast a shadow over COP29, say Catholic officials here who worry Trump will not only halt U.S. progress in reducing heat-trapping emissions but also undermine international efforts.

Developed countries at COP29 should focus less on finding ways to slow down the progress of negotiations for the loss and damage fund, and instead look at what matters: responding to the needs of the most vulnerable.

The host country for the annual summit has come under international scrutiny for human rights and religious freedom violations, leading some activists to question why there has not been more pushback from the global climate advocates, including faith organizations.

Zambia and other African nations are grappling with an extreme drought, worsened by the effects of climate change. One possible funding source Zambia has waited to access is the loss and damage fund, established in 2022 under the United Nations. 

With financing the focus at the U.N. climate conference, the Vatican secretary of state delivered to world leaders Pope Francis' appeal that wealthy nations use the 2025 Jubilee to forgive debts "as a matter of justice."

The poor and vulnerable must be front and center when it comes to climate change policies, said two leading bishops of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the head of the U.S. church's international humanitarian agency, in a statement issued ahead of the United Nations' annual gathering on climate concerns.

Catholic and faith representatives will join global leaders and national delegates Nov. 11-22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, host to the United Nations climate change conference, COP29. 

"The Holy See may have one of the smallest delegations," writes John Leo Algo, "but it has the potential to make the biggest long-term impact in future climate negotiations, given its unique context." 

The ACE work stream and the Vatican's ecological education framework share the goal of empowering society to implement climate solutions, and both address intergenerational justice through capacity-building of youth.

Paris Agreement pledges alone won't reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Vatican can respond with an initiative based on the work of the Laudato Si' Action Platform and the competencies of Catholic universities.