Institutions of the Catholic Church in Latin America must join forces to bring their contribution on the care of the common home and integral ecology to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in 2025, COP 30, to be held in Belém (PA). Part of the group that is part of the project “Church towards COP 30 – articulation for integral ecology and climate justice” received, last Friday, August 23, at the headquarters of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), representatives of continental organizations to define strategies and joint actions in preparation for the climate event.

The director of the Center for Programs and Action Networks was received by the project coordination. Pastoral of Celam, Father Francisco Hernández, and the Knowledge Management coordinator of Cáritas Latinoamericana, José Oscar Henao Monje. Present at the meeting were the advisor of the Episcopal Commission for Socio-transformative Action of the CNBB, Father Dário Bossi; Igor Bastos, from the Laudato Si' Movement; Melillo Dinis, advisor to Repam-Brasil; and Sister Rosa Elena Ciprés Díaz, advisor to the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB).

Continental dynamics

Entering a “continental dynamic,” as Father Dário defined, the COP 30 process is receiving support from various ecclesiastical institutions, which are articulated to give visibility to the Catholic Church's understanding of life on the planet. At the meeting, the representatives of Cáritas and Celam prepared to add to the initiatives that are already underway in Brazil, with the aim of amplifying and joining forces.

Part of this contribution will come from the experience of the Church in Colombia, which is immersed in the process of COP 16, on Biodiversity, which will take place in Cali, Colombia. The strong mobilization of the Church in the neighboring country can offer clues for actions towards COP 30.

“This path is called by the Celam Ruta Laudate Deum, an itinerary that connects the Pan-Amazonian Social Forum (Fospa), which took place in Bolivia in June; COP 16, in Colombia; and COP 30, in Belém. An itinerary where the Latin American Church maintains the same course,” explained Father Dário Bossi.

The advisor explains that the archbishop of Porto Alegre and president of the CNBB, Monsignor Jaime Spengler, has facilitated this convergence between the groups, since he performs the functions of president of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil and the Latin American Episcopal Council.

The director of the Center for Programs and Networks of Pastoral Action of Celam, Father Francisco Hernández, shares the work of identifying the points in which Celam can collaborate with the CNBB so that the Church organizations that are present at COP 30 are as coordinated as possible, despite the diversity of ecclesial actors that exist.

“The idea is to see if we can articulate as much as possible, in such a way that we reach an experience of the Church that walks together, in communion, and make a testimony of defense of the Common Home and other diverse aspects of the entire dynamic of integral human development that the Church carries out in defense of also the Common House, so that we are more united and work very articulately,” he stated.

Definitions

Some actions were planned in this joint work towards COP 30. After the Conference on Biodiversity in Colombia, in October, the group will carry out an evaluation and planning for the convergence of actions, taking as a starting point the performance of the Church in the process.

In September, during a meeting that will bring together the organizations episcopal conferences of the continents, in Luxembourg, to discuss the Synod and COP 30, Celam will bring information on the articulation of the CNBB, “so that the great world conferences know what is being thought and how a convergence can be organized in those days of Belém”, explained Father Dário. Celam will also support the articulation of Brazil with efforts in the field of communication.

Another convergence action seeks to facilitate the supply of information between local organizations and the Holy See, through the Vatican Secretariat of State and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.

Finally, Celam, Cáritas and the Church towards COP 30 Project will add contributions to the document that will present the socio-environmental thinking of the CNBB in the reflections of COP 30, highlighting the convergence of thought, ecclesial, socio-environmental and political position of the Church on the subject.

Church heading towards COP 30

What was initially called “Laudato Si’ + COP 30 Campaign” later became the project “Church heading towards COP 30: articulation by Integral Ecology and Climate Justice”, a express call of the CNBB to the entire Church.

This articulation, which involves the Commissions for Socio-transformative Action, for Integral Ecology and Mining, and for the Amazon of the CNBB, also brings together the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (Repam), the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB), the Laudato Si' Movement and Cáritas Brasileira. All institutions united with a view to the active participation of the Church in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), as well as in the conscious and committed preparation for this event of global importance.

The general objective of the articulation is to take advantage of the opportunity of holding COP 30 in Brazil to strengthen the degree of influence of the Church in view of the ecological conversion and socio-environmental transformation of the planet, in light of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Text in Portuguese and photos by Luiz Lopes Junior (CNBB Communication Office), with Spanish translation by Marcus Neto