HONG KONF (SE): The Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development hopes that the historic decisions of the United Nations Climate Change Conference [COP28] for energy transition as well as its recent petition to world leaders at the conference, will enhance the awareness of the faithful on climate change so that they will take action to help protect the environment.
The COP28 took place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12. Participants took stock of the world’s progress towards the goals of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement and discussed new approaches. The conference concluded with nations agreeing for the first time to “transition away” from coal, oil and gas, aiming to minimise global warming to 1.5°C, one of the keystone goals set out in the Paris Agreement. They also agreed on commitments to triple renewables capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.
According to Law Pui Shan, executive secretary of the diocesan commission, the call by world leaders for an end to fossil fuels is in line with Pope Francis’ call for energy transition as expressed in his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, and recent follow-up apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum.
The pope attaches great importance to the yearly conference and issued the new apostolic exhortation on October 4 this year, expressing his hope that the leaders of the world’s countries will be able to bring about decisive results to accelerate the energy transition, and make an effective commitment to sustainable monitoring [54].
In response to the Holy Father’s concern about the outcome of the international meeting, the commission issued a petition calling on different nations to take action to care for our common home during a meeting and collected signatures online and from different parishes in Hong Kong from November 6 to 30.
Although the decision is not specific in this regard, I believe it represents an improvement. We hope that the nations will be able to join forces and demonstrate their determination to reach this common goal in the future
Law Pui Shan, executive secretary,Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development
Law said that over 2,000 signatures were received, demonstrating the concern of the faithful and religious people in Hong Kong for this pressing issue. The petition was forwarded to the COP28 organisers on December 1.
While the conference has increased the awareness of the faithful concerning climate change, she observed that a monitoring system is lacking to ensure an effective energy transition. She believed that what was missing was a timetable, or guidelines, on how fossil fuels should be phased out. “Although the decision is not specific in this regard, I believe it represents an improvement. We hope that the nations will be able to join forces and demonstrate their determination to reach this common goal in the future,” she said.
She said she knew that some countries opposed a phase-out of fossil fuels during COP28 due to the difficulties in their own countries. “In a general sense, every region has its own obstacles. Yet among such obstacles, it is still possible to develop certain measures. A small step further can change the world,” she said.
In an historic move, developed countries in the meeting pledged a combined total of over US$700 million to the loss and damage fund for developing nations affected by climate change. But critics have pointed out that the amount is too small to compensate for the huge irreversible damage.
Law believes that the fund, though insufficient, has to some extent, responded to Pope Francis’ appeal to help those who have suffered the most from climate change. A statement from Pope Francis was read by Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, at the beginning of COP28. It urged that people in dire need be helped and requested that different countries use their military funds to eliminate famine instead.
“Humanitarian assistance must be provided to poor countries in order to help them address their basic needs in the face of the climate crisis,” she stated. “Some measures have to be taken in a complementary way. In order to solve this problem, we must unite the world since some of the effects of climate change are still reversible.”
The commission has recently established a WhatsApp channel to disseminate environmental concerns and discussions.
