22
Apr
2024
Earth Day 2024: Clever solutions to clear plastic waste in Bolivia
A community near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia have come together to clear the tons of waste that washed up on their doorstep.
Cities worldwide are increasingly suffering the effects of the climate crisis. People who live in poverty in urban environments are particularly at risk, their situation made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.
In cities across Latin America, local experts you support are helping people to access safer housing, to live in dignity, and to protect our common home.
Brazil: Converting a hotel into sustainable housing
In São Paolo, Brazil’s largest city, campaigners supported by our partner Semeando resisted eviction from the Hotel Lord, a luxury hotel that had been abandoned. Pressure to secure government funding means that the hotel is now being converted into social housing.
Hotel Lord in November 2019 before renovation.
Once the conversion is finished, over 176 families will be able to live there, paying a fraction of what they would to live in overcrowded accommodation far from services on the outskirts of the city. What’s more, the redevelopment will benefit the environment in a number of ways - when complete, the building will include a roof allotment and recycling points.
Work is almost complete on Hotel Lord now.
Peru: Using fog to preserve the land
An example of a "fogcatcher" outside Lima.
Lima, the capital of Peru, is surrounded by a fragile ecosystem consisting of hills, or ‘Lomas’. The fog that appears during the winter provides a unique way for local plants and animals to flourish, but a recent UK study has shown the extent to which these areas are under threat from the climate crisis and housing development.
Ascencio, a community leader from the Lomas de Primavera Ecological Association, has campaigned tirelessly for the preservation of the Lomas. An innovative system of ‘fogcatchers’ has now been installed, to capture water from the fog and irrigate and conserve the local area.
Ascencio is an environmental defender protecting the Lomas mountains in Peru.
Peru is one of only two countries in Latin America yet to include people’s right to safe, dignified housing in its constitution. Through your support, local organisation CIDAP co-hosted an international event this week to try to change this. Members of the Peruvian Congress were present at the event along with other international organisations and the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, who said: “The right to housing is a constitutional right, but also a human right.”
Climate crisis news
13
Dec
2023
COP28: UN climate talks end with agreement to 'transition away from fossil fuels'
The agreement to "transition away from fossil fuels" is the first time governments have committed to move away from fossil fuels in more than thirty years of UN climate meetings.
02
Dec
2023
COP28: Pope Francis calls for UN talks to be a "turning point" in the climate crisis
In his message at the summit in the United Arab Emirates, the Pope called on governments to put the global common good ahead of national interests.
30
Nov
2023
COP28: Climate summit starts with agreement on loss and damage fund
The COP28 climate talks have begun with countries agreeing on the first day of the UN summit how a loss and damage fund will operate.
09
Nov
2023
COP28: How you can campaign to call for action on the climate crisis
Add your voice to Pope Francis' call for leaders at the UN climate summit to take the action we need to tackle the climate crisis.
03
Oct
2023
Laudate Deum: Pope Francis issues new call for action on climate crisis
The new apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum follows eight years after Laudato Si’, in which Pope Francis called for all people to care for our common home.
19
Sep
2023
CAFOD decries UK government U-turn on green policies
Speaking on BBC World News, CAFOD’s Head of Advocacy, Neil Thorns, said “the UK is leaving its international reputation in tatters”.
14
Sep
2023
Fossil fuel companies offered 'architects of the climate emergency' blue plaques
Shell and BP were presented with mock 'blue plaques' to remind the fossil fuel companies how history will judge their contribution to the climate crisis.
22
Feb
2023
"The earth is crying out to us and needs us"
Poverty and the threat of violence cast a shadow over childhood in Colombia but one woman is training young people to advocate for their communities, work for peace and safeguard the Amazon.