26/10/2018
2018 Joint Statement on Climate Justice by presidents of continental Bishops Conferences (EN)
Category Archives: Ecology & Sustainability
In the Treaties the European Union professes the principles of sustainability, the protection of the environment and the fight against the causes and effects of climate change. Regularly these ambitions are in conflict with other aims of the EU like economic growth, agriculture and industrial policy.
Since 2008 COMECE has been engaged with the topic of climate change and regularly stressed the necessity of an ecological conversion and a different and more sober style of life. In his encyclical «Laudato si» Pope Francis has flagged up this idea with his concept of an «integrate ecology» that underscores the link between the protection of the environment and climate, the fight against poverty, social justice, economy and politics.
Press Release
Church worldwide calls for ambitious and urgent climate action
In the context of a recent UN report on the urgent need to develop policies that limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, Mgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich SJ, President of COMECE, together with all the other presidents of continental Bishops’ Conferences, calls politicians to work towards an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement. They ask for COP24 to prove a milestone in the path set out in … Continue reading
NEWS
Climate Change: the Church and its way to COP-24
On 12 December 2015, at the end of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-21) that was held in Paris, 197 Parties adopted the «Paris Agreement» (PA). Entered into force on 4 November 2016, the agreement is now signed by 170 parties. Its main goal is to keep the rise of the average … Continue reading
Press Release
First Laudato Si’ Reflection Day
The first Laudato Si’ Reflection Day took place in Brussels on 6 June with more than 70 representatives of the European Bishops’ Conferences, Catholic organisations and movements. Together they expressed their support for a sustainable financial system in Europe and the Church. Participants discussed the latest EU initiatives on the matter and shared best practises and ideas in order to strengthen the crucial role the … Continue reading
NEWS
Agriculture between technological innovation and global responsibility
In the context of the 11th Forum for future development of Rural Areas, COMECE organised in Berlin a high-level panel of experts to find out how the Catholic Church can support and accompany farmers in times of fundamental changes of their work and their living conditions. Farmers and rural areas are under pressure due to high expectations. They are called to produce safe and high … Continue reading
NEWS
Tackling AMR, the Antimicrobial Resistance
Every year approximately 25,000 people in the EU and about 700,000 in the rest of the world die because of resistance against «antibiotics». What is this phenomenon? How is it possible? What is the EU doing to protect its citizens? What is the contribution of COMECE to counter it? The resistance against antibiotics, or Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), is a worldwide growing phenomenon due to an … Continue reading
Press Release
Cardinal Marx on US President’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate agreement
“Although this decision comes as no surprise, it is a major challenge for climate protection at international level. It erodes the global trust achieved with the agreement of the Paris climate conference. Until the end, we had hoped that the discussions at the G7 and the meeting with Pope Francis would have positively influenced his decision. The Encyclical Laudato Si, offered by Pope Francis to … Continue reading
Press Release
COMECE welcomes EP resolution on Food Waste
Statement of Fr. Olivier Poquillon OP, secretary general of COMECE, on today’s adoption of a resolution by the European Parliament on «Resource efficiency: reducing food waste, improving food safety». In recent years Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken out against the scandal of food waste. He criticized a throwaway culture that “made us insensitive to wasting and throwing out excess foodstuffs, which is especially condemnable when … Continue reading
Press Release
Paris Agreement on Climate Change: the practical implementation begins
COMECE welcomes the ratification by the European Union of the climate agreement signed last year in Paris. Following the deposit of the instruments of ratification to the United Nations on Friday in New York, the climate agreement can now enter into force. This raises hopes that the international community will be able to act quickly and responsibly in the fight against climate change. Now that … Continue reading
NEWS
COMECE on the Paris Climate Agreement
Ahead of the expected vote in the European Parliament in October, the Secretariat of COMECE welcomes the ratification by China and the United States of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The ratification by these two states, given their economic weight and their environmental impact, represents a significant step in the right direction. In an appeal addressed to the COP 21 negotiating parties in October … Continue reading