Jesuit Missions demand climate justice

Colette Joyce (left) with Fr Dominic Robinson SJ (centre) from Westminster J&P, and Santana Luis

Source: Jesuit Missions

As COP28 prepares to draw to a close this week, Jesuit Missions - the mission & development agency of the Jesuits in Britain - joined other Faith groups on Saturday to demand climate justice now!

Hundreds of people from dozens of different Faith groups gathered outside the HQ of BP in central London on Saturday morning (9th December 2023) to listen to speakers talk about the climate crisis, the solutions, and why politicians and leaders from across the world must take decisive action now. The rally was part of the Cop28 Global Day of Action.

Jesuit Missions is particularly concerned about a warming planet. Its work with some of the most vulnerable people on Earth - in places such as Madagascar, South Sudan and India - is focused on helping communities become climate-resilient in the face of rising global temperatures. Depleted agriculture, scarce water supplies and devastated communities are the product of a global system that so far, has refused to take serious and committed action to tackle climate change, most obviously in the rising use of fossil fuels that we see around the world. Fossil fuel use is the key driver of man-made climate change, and the science has been clear for years; only by cutting fossil fuel use can we hope to control global temperature rises, which are affecting us all.

Supporters first gathered at the London Jesuit Centre to hear updates from the COP28 negotiations, and to pray for those who are experiencing the effects of climate change, as well as those in global leadership positions who are called on to take action. At 11am, supporters and clergy then marched to St James's Sq (the location of BP) to join the other Faith groups brought together by the Climate Justice Coalition. Other groups in attendance included Tearfund, Cafod, Operation Noah, Christian Aid, Faith for the Climate, the Laudato Si' Movement, and the Peace & Justice group from the Diocese of Westminster.

The rally at BP HQ heard from several speakers who reiterated the need for Governments to take action now, and participants also observed a minute's silence for those affected by climate change. The march then continued through central London, ending in Trafalgar Square. (Many participants went on to join the Gaza peace rally that was progressing down Whitehall to Westminster.)

LINK

Jesuit Missions: https://jesuitmissions.org.uk/