Operation Noah welcomes 'timely' climate encyclical

Operation Noah has welcomed Pope Francis' 'bold stance on climate change ahead of the critical COP21 UN climate negotiations this December'.

"His concerns for people and the planet resonate loud and clear at a time of increasing climate instability affecting the world's poor and vulnerable and threatening the integrity of God's creation. His council urges us to take seriously the complex moral and social issues that climate change poses."

Operation Noah, an ecumenical Christian charity that campaigns on climate change, has long been calling on the Church to see the environment and climate change as an urgent theological priority.

Responding to the encyclical, Nicky Bull, Chair of Operation Noah, said: "'The climate crisis offers us a unique opportunity to change the way we do things on a global scale - to create a fairer, safer and more sustainable world for all. We hope that the Pope's moral guidance will catalyse the faith community around the world to speak out and take urgent, radical action on one of the most pressing social justice issues of our time. His call for a "new and universal solidarity" to work together as one human family cannot come at a more important moment for the protection of the Earth, its creatures and future generations to come."

Operation Noah's Bright Now campaign urges the Church to align its investment policies with the duty to care for God's creation and act on climate change. Ellie Roberts, divestment campaigner, said: "We hope the Pope's call for climate justice will inspire Catholic communities around the world to look at how their own investments might be financing climate change, and to commit to disinvesting from fossil fuels as a matter of faith. This is essential for building the political will we need for governments to produce a strong climate deal in Paris at the end of this year."

Operation Noah anticipates that the immense impact of this papal encyclical on broader society and governments during the build-up to the COP21 will help to anchor our hopes for a fair and meaningful outcome. It will add enormous gravitas to faith communities' planned activities including the People's Pilgrimage, the Pilgrimage to Paris and people's mobilisations across the globe.

For more information on Operation Noah see: www.operationnoah.org

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