Laudato Si' Animators write to Prime Minister

Fifty-five Laudato Si' Animators, representing all parts of the United Kingdom, have written an open letter to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the ministers responsible Steve Reed and Ed Milliband. They call on the government to:

1. Introduce the Climate and Nature Bill which 60,000 marched for at Restore Nature Now. This bill would address many issues of concern e.g. reducing greenhouse gases, ending fossil fuel extraction, restoring ecosystems.

2. Commit to a transition from animal agriculture to organic, arable agriculture. Animal agriculture is a leading cause of many present world crises - climate change; antibiotic resistance; waste of resources and global hunger (food, land, water and energy are wasted in growing food for animals to eat).

3. Commit to the signing of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT), a proposed international agreement that aims to control fossil fuel production and infrastructure expansion, and phase out fossil fuel use in a fair and equitable way. The treaty would also accelerate the transition to clean energy and economic diversification away from fossil fuels. In 2023 Pope Francis called for "the elimination of fossil fuels, and education in lifestyles that are less dependant".

4. Support rewilding and in particular the Rewilding manifesto.

5. Ensure businesses pay for their pollution, and transition to non-polluting practices and products.

They state: "We believe that climate change is now such a threat to humanity that it should not be the subject of policies of individual political parties, but that all the parties should work together to find solutions to the problem for the common good and for the sake of our children's children.

"Pope Francis issued a papal document Laudate Deum in October 2023 which gives a clear warning about what needs to be done urgently.

"We are sending you a photo from the march in June and a copy of a special painting by professional artist Helen Elwes who is one of the Animators which we hope you will put on your desk as a reminder that we all need to think and act to care for our common home."