As COP29 begins in Baku, Pope Francis' recent message calls for a profound commitment to justice and solidarity, especially for regions like Africa that bear disproportionate climate impacts.

The Pope emphasizes a moral duty to tackle climate debt and ensure a just energy transition, echoing demands for robust climate financing, especially the Loss and Damage Fund, to support vulnerable communities. Highlighting shared responsibility, he appeals to leaders to honor their promises by reducing emissions and creating inclusive pathways to sustainability that safeguard marginalized communities and the Earth.

Pope Francis’ message to COP29 underscores the urgent moral imperative for climate justice, particularly through financial mechanisms to support vulnerable nations and curb environmental exploitation. His call aligns with Africa’s demands for effective climate financing, especially in the Loss and Damage Fund, and substantial debt relief to allow sustainable development. Pope Francis emphasizes the responsibility of wealthier nations to lead emissions reductions, respect indigenous communities, and commit to equitable energy transitions that protect marginalized populations and uphold the integrity of creation.

In this year’s Conference of Parties (COP), which some have dubbed as the “Finance COP,” Jesuits for Climate Justice responding to Pope Francis' call have issued a strong call to action, urging delegates to prioritise three key areas: operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund, advocating for debt cancellation, and accelerating a just energy transition. Catholic leaders, driven by Pope Francis’s encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, advocate for these issues as essential to climate justice, especially for African communities that suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change.

Following COP28’s establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund, COP29 should prioritize operationalizing this fund by 2025 to assist countries most affected by climate change. With severe impacts across Africa—from droughts and flooding to food insecurity—the Loss and Damage Fund could offer critical support to African communities. Many experts stress that the current funding level of $702 million is insufficient, advocating for an expanded commitment that aligns with the dignity of all people, especially those disproportionately affected by climate injustice.

The Catholic Church has actively called for international solidarity to address the widening inequalities exacerbated by climate impacts. Now, with a proposed target of at least 50% at COP29 of climate finance toward adaptation, the Church sees this as not only a humanitarian responsibility but a moral imperative to support those who have contributed the least to climate change yet bear its heaviest burdens.

Debt Cancellation: Freeing Africa from a Cycle of Debt and Climate Vulnerability

Many African nations face crushing debt obligations, which significantly hinder their ability to invest in climate resilience. Ethiopia, for example, spends three times more on debt repayment than on climate adaptation, while nations like Mozambique and Congo confront similar challenges. Often, lower-income countries are forced into further debt to address climate impacts, leaving them financially strained and unable to invest in sustainable development.

The Catholic Church’s advocacy for debt relief is grounded in the values of social justice and compassion. Pope Francis and other Catholic leaders call on wealthier nations to consider debt cancellation for vulnerable countries, enabling them to direct resources toward resilience and development rather than loan repayments. At COP29, Catholic organizations and leaders are pushing for actionable steps to alleviate this debt burden, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and justice for the most vulnerable.

Ensuring a Just Energy Transition for African Communities

The transition to renewable energy must be equitable to succeed, and the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of ensuring that marginalized communities are not left behind. The Baku Initiative, launched at COP29, seeks to align emissions reductions with the developmental needs of poorer nations, including those in Africa. On November 14, COP29’s Finance, Investment, and Trade Day will focus on funding for job creation and skills development in renewable energy sectors—a crucial step toward economic empowerment for African communities.

In advocating for a just energy transition, the Catholic Church underscores the ethical need to respect the rights of workers, especially artisanal miners in Africa. A recent UN report Resourcing the Energy Transition on mineral supply chains points to the need for fair labor practices and equitable distribution of benefits in resource-rich African countries. Catholic leaders at COP29 are highlighting this report, pushing for policies that protect workers’ rights and ensure that African nations benefit from their resources rather than falling victim to exploitation by foreign corporations.

Upholding the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - IPCC’s Call for Emissions Reduction

The Catholic Church is aligned with the IPCC’s call to reduce global carbon emissions, emphasizing that developed nations must lead in emissions cuts while supporting developing countries in climate adaptation. The Church’s stance reflects Pope Francis’s call for “integral ecology,” which recognizes the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and economic justice. African nations, which contribute only a fraction of global emissions yet face outsized climate risks, are rallying for greater accountability from high-emitting countries.

Catholic Grassroots Action: Amplifying Voices for Change

The Catholic Church actively mobilizes its global community to engage with climate issues, seeing COP29 as a key moment for Catholic citizens to make their voices heard. Through letters to national delegates, local parish activities, and community advocacy, Catholic organizations around the world are urging leaders to prioritize climate financing, debt relief, and a just energy transition. Church leaders encourage the faithful to exercise their “ecological citizenship” by engaging with COP29’s agenda and advocating for policies that protect the most vulnerable.

A Call for Climate Justice

COP29 is a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church and the world, as leaders discuss climate financing and equitable transition policies. Whether COP29 achieves meaningful progress will hinge on the commitment of nations to translate promises into action, especially around operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund and pursuing debt cancellation. For African communities facing severe climate impacts, these decisions are not simply policy issues but urgent moral imperatives. The Catholic Church will continue to be a strong voice in calling for climate justice, rooted in the belief that protecting the earth is a sacred duty and that caring for the vulnerable is a mark of true solidarity.

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