Take action on climate change
The impact of climate change on our neighbours in the Pacific is extreme. Our voices, together, can persuade governments and polluters to take action to achieve climate justice and protect our common home. The displacement of people due to climate change is a growing humanitarian disaster.
Take action now.
Shaniella learnt disaster risk reduction skills to prepare for emergencies in the Solomon Islands. Photo: Neil Nuia
We are calling on the Australian Government to:
Adopt and implement an ambitious, credible and just plan to tackle climate change.
Our government must adopt effective climate targets and a credible plan for reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreement made at COP21.
Support local responses to climate resilience and adaptation.
Rich countries have to meet their existing commitments to help other countries adapt to climate change. This support needs to reach the people who know what their communities need.
Make big polluters pay for the loss and damage they have caused.
This will help vulnerable communities to adapt and recover from extreme weather evens.
Impacts of climate change on the coast in Tonga. Photo: Caritas Australia
Unheard, Uncharted
Millions of people are increasing exposed to climate change impacts. Many of these impacts cannot be measured with economic metrics, yet ‘non-economic’ losses may be more significant than ‘economic’ losses. Find out why it’s vitally important that we understand how ‘non-economic’ loss and damage is impacting climate-vulnerable communities across the world and build this into our climate policies.
Many communities in the Pacific are vulnerable to climate change. Credit: Photo: Neil Nuia/Caritas
Kioa Declaration Signing Ceremony In Kioa, Fiji 19 October 2022. Photo: Damian Spruce, Caritas Australia
The Kioa Declaration
Major Pacific civil society organisations, including the Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO), Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC), Caritas Oceania, 350 Pacific and many grassroots Pacific Island organisations, came together from the 17-19 October in Fiji to put together the Kioa Climate Emergency Declaration 2022 to be presented to the global community at COP27.
Twin Clouds Report
Caritas Oceania and Jubilee Australia Research Centre have released a climate finance report titled: “Twin clouds on the horizon: averting a combined climate and debt crisis in the Pacific through Locally-delivered climate finance”. It is the first report to look in detail at debt, climate change and their combined impacts on the Pacific region.
Director of Caritas Papua New Guinea Mavis Tito (L), Caritas Australia CEO Kirsty Roberstion (C) and His Eminence Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Caritas Oceania Regional President (R) at the launch event of the Climate Finance report in Papua New Guinea.
The Laudato Si' Action Plan
Caritas Australia has launched a Laudato Si’ Action Plan in response to the Pope’s Laudato Si' encyclical issued in May 2015.
In simple terms, the Pope’s message illustrates an urgent and imperative need to address the ecological crisis facing the planet. At the heart of Caritas Australia’s action plan lies a comprehensive approach to advocacy, community engagement, and ecological education. Crafted under the guidance of Caritas Australia’s Climate Community of Practice, the plan sets forth a roadmap for fostering sustainability at all levels within the organisation.
You can read the action plan and more about Catholic Earthcare's activities here.
