Ahead of COP31, the European Laudato Si’ Alliance (ELSiA) and other 70 Christian organisations and networks across Europe have issued a faith-based appeal urging the European Union to demonstrate ambitious and just climate leadership. Bringing together Catholic agencies, Church bodies, religious congregations, ecological movements and justice organisations, the signatories call on the EU to accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, strengthen climate finance, promote a just transition and support agroecology as a key response to the climate crisis.
The letter comes at a moment when communities across Europe and around the world are increasingly experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change, from extreme heat and wildfires to floods, displacement and growing food insecurity. Against this backdrop, the signatories urge European leaders to move beyond promises and deliver concrete action that responds to both the urgency of the climate crisis and the needs of the most vulnerable communities.
Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and inspired by the vision of Laudato Si’, the appeal highlights the moral responsibility of wealthier nations to lead with courage, solidarity and a commitment to the common good. It calls for climate policies that place human dignity, ecological justice and intergenerational responsibility at their centre, while remaining attentive to the voices and experiences of communities in the Global South.
The full text of the letter, including its four recommendations for EU leadership at COP31 and the complete list of signatories, can be downloaded below.
Cover photo credits: UN Climate Change | Lara Murillo / Flickr
