Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa, Latin America demand climate justice

Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America demanded climate justice for the parts of the world most affected by rising temperatures and rejected what they said were the “false solutions” promoted by wealthy countries.

As a heat wave hits much of Europe, including the Vatican, the continental bishops conferences of the Global South penned a first-ever joint ecological appeal ahead of the next U.N. climate conference in November in Belem, Brazil.

In the document, they echoed the frequent environmental appeals by Pope Francis during his 12-year pontificate, but in a language that was far less diplomatic and far more urgent.

They blasted the “openly denialist and apathetic stance” of “so-called elites of power” in the industrialized world who pressure their governments to back off sufficient mitigation and adaptation measures.

The proposals merely perpetuate the exploitation of God’s creation and its most vulnerable people, when what is really needed is the complete abandonment