Catholic Bishops in Africa among Leaders Urging G20 to “consign fossil fuels to history”

The Catholic Church leaders caution against climate injustice saying, “The world needs to keep fossil fuels in the ground if we are to limit global warming to a below 1.5 degrees temperature rise by the end of 2030.”

They call upon representatives of the G20 governments who are expected to participate in the sixteenth meeting of the Group of Twenty scheduled to take place in Italy’s capital, Rome, to stop “any new developments of coal, oil and gas within our own countries.”

In their collective statement, the Church leaders who include eight Catholic Prelates from South Africa and the President of Caritas Africa, Archbishop Gabriel Justice Anokye of Ghana’s Kumasi Archdiocese want G20 nations to “immediately” end “all funding of fossil fuels – including coal, oil and gas – abroad.”

The Catholic leaders appeal to G20 nations “to consign fossil fuels to history by … massively scaling up investments in clean and safe forms of energy such as wind and solar power, that prioritize energy access for the poorest communities.”

They also want fossil fuels consigned to history by the G20 countries “making good on promises to provide climate finance to support communities already affected by the impacts of climate change.”

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“Our moral duty is unquestionable. Advanced economies must act first to tackle climate change and must act quickly to protect current and future generations and our common home,” the Catholic Church leaders say.

They add, "We must face our historic responsibility and act with justice, standing in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in our own countries and around the world.” 

The Catholic leaders’ appeal to the G20 countries cautioning against climate injustice follows the May 2019 address of Pope Francis to the meeting with Finance Ministers from various countries at the Vatican on “Climate change and new evidence from science, engineering, and policy.”

“The signs today are not good. Investments in fossil fuels continue to rise, even though scientists tell us that fossil fuels should remain underground,” the Holy Father said in his 27 May 2019 address. 

Making reference to an International Energy Agency report indicating “that investments in clean energy fell again for the second consecutive year,” Pope Francis further said, “We continue along old paths because we are trapped by our faulty accounting and by the corruption of vested interests. We still reckon as profit what threatens our very survival.”

“You are your nations’ financial leaders; you keep the books for your respective governments. Before all else, though, we must recognize the ledger of life itself, of human dignity and survival,” the Holy Father told the Ministers of Finance drawn from various countries of the world.

The Pontiff said he expected the Ministers of Finance at the May 2019 meeting to “agree upon a common plan that accords with climate science, the latest in clean energy engineering, and above all the ethics of human dignity.”

“I ask you to invite your fellow finance ministers around the world to join your efforts and plans. May your work with scientists, technicians and the peoples of your nations, especially the poorest, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement,” Pope Francis said, addressing himself to Finance Ministers during the May 2019 meeting at the Vatican.

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