The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) together with Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean (Cáritas LAC) sent a letter to the President of COP30, His Excellency Mr. Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, expressing their hope that the conference of the parties, to be held in Belém do Pará, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025, will be a historic moment that responds "with courage to the cry of our people".

The document was signed by the Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil) and President of CELAM, Card. Jaime Spengler, and by the Auxiliary Bishop of Cusco (Peru) and Secretary General of the entity, Mons. Lizardo Estrada Herrera. For Cáritas Latinoamericana, the document bears the signature of the Archbishop of Yucatán (Mexico) and President, Mons. Gustavo Rodríguez Vega, and the Regional Coordinator, Nicolás Meyer.

Denouncement of the climate crisis and the economic model

Catholic entities, which are on a synodal path of preparation and participation in COP30, highlight that the climate crisis "hits our communities hard", being aggravated by an economic model that "feeds the excessive ambition of a few at the expense of the most disadvantaged populations." They mention that "predatory activities such as indiscriminate deforestation, extractive mining, and other initiatives that are presented as false solutions unfairly dispossess entire populations and criminalize those who dare to defend them." Furthermore, the "burden of unpayable debt prevents many countries from fulfilling their climate commitments."

In line with the Social Doctrine of the Church, CELAM and Cáritas LAC affirm that they are convinced that "COP30 must become an undeniable opportunity to contribute to the civilizational leap that the current historical time demands of us." The letter also appeals to the "moral responsibility of the most economically developed countries", in coherence with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities".

Demands for socio-environmental justice and reparation of the ecological debt

Socio-environmental justice, according to the text, "requires facing the structural causes of the crisis – which is also a crisis of meaning and values ​​–, recognizing the ecological debt, and assuming its reparation." To this end, it is necessary to make "effective, without delay, the fulfillment of the commitments of the Parties, including the updating and full implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), promoting effective policies that make possible comprehensive human development, with the full participation of affected populations in the decisions that concern them, and with accessible and direct financing in support of those who suffer the most severe impacts of climate change."

In a specific request, and in the face of concern about the current restrictions on access to negotiation spaces, the Latin American Church requests greater openness so that the delegations of faith groups can contribute fully to the discussion processes in the Blue Zone, so that they can fulfill their unique role in this process that requires "recognizing the spiritual dimension of the human and the distinctive role of faith groups as allies in promoting criteria for shared well-being." This call emphasizes the need for greater openness to multi-stakeholder participation in these multilateral processes.

The letter ends with the reaffirmation of the Church's willingness to accompany efforts to find "just, inclusive, transparent solutions" and with the confidence that COP30 will be "a space for authentic listening, for courageous decisions and for transformative actions."

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(Cover photo: Rafa Neddermeyer/COP30)