Faith groups to G7 leaders: Peace requires a fossil fuel treaty | National Catholic Reporter

GreenFaith and the Laudato Si’ Movement joined Green Anglicans, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Soka Gakkai International and the World Council of Churches in issuing an open letter calling for G7 governments to lead efforts for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty with three interconnected and essential commitments, which together are the pillars of a sustainable future.

Source: Faith groups to G7 leaders: Peace requires a fossil fuel treaty | National Catholic Reporter

…EXCERPT HERE

GreenFaith and the Laudato Si’ Movement joined Green Anglicans, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Soka Gakkai International and the World Council of Churches in issuing an open letter calling for G7 governments to lead efforts for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty with three interconnected and essential commitments, which together are the pillars of a sustainable future. 

First, we called for an immediate end to new fossil fuel project development, which is the precondition for solving the climate crisis. This echoes the International Energy Agency’s unequivocal 2021 statement that meeting the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C temperature rise limit required an immediate stop to new coal, oil and gas development.

In this sense, the recent Pope Francis’ message for the 2023 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (Sept. 1) claims that “according to the commitments undertaken in the Paris Agreement to restrain global warming, it is absurd to permit the continued exploration and expansion of fossil fuel infrastructures.” Furthermore, “​​The world leaders who will gather for the COP28 summit in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December must listen to science and institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuels,” he stated. Such a treaty “holds great promise to complement and enhance the Paris Agreement,” said Jesuit Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Second, we called for a pathway for a fair phase-out of existing fossil energy production, allowing more vulnerable nations more time to make a just energy transition.  

And third, we called for funding for climate-related loss and damage and for a just transition to enable impacted workers and communities to undertake the job training and community redevelopment that the just energy transition will require. Such investments would unlock a better future for billions of people. For example, an International Renewable Energy Agency study on development in Africa calculated that compared to the continent’s current fossil-fuel heavy plans, “a path to 1.5C would deliver an additional 6.4% in GDP growth by 2050, 3.5% more jobs and a 25.4% higher welfare index.”

None of these three conditions are easy. But it could not be more clear that they are the necessary, right steps to take. They represent the ethical foundations for a sustainable future. People of faith must advocate for them with passion and resolve. One way to lend support is to sign the Multi-Faith Letter for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

As the G7 meeting ends and we approach the annual U.N. climate negotiations in the United Arab Emirates, whose president and agenda-setter is the CEO of the country’s national oil company, people of different religions and goodwill around the world can speak out and work within their communities to support change. Governments will not act with adequate ambition until they know that large numbers of people understand what is at stake, care, and demand action. Failure to act will cause irreparable damage to the ecosystems on which human civilization depends, and to hundreds of millions of the world’s most climate-vulnerable families. Principled, ambitious, rapid action can create a better future for all.