Catholic schoolchildren join mass lobby as thousands demand bold action on climate, debt and nature

Catholics of all ages from across the UK united in a powerful show of concern with a clear demand for action on climate and debt.

Thousands gathered in Westminster on Wednesday for the Act Now, Change Forever mass lobby, calling on MPs to take urgent action on the climate crisis, unjust debt and nature loss. The event was organised by The Climate Coalition, a network of over 120 UK organisations representing more than 22 million people and highlighted the public demand for bold leadership amid a worsening climate crisis. According to research 89% of people want climate action.

As part of the Jubilee Year, supporters from the Catholic agency CAFOD and other faith groups called on MPs to champion bold global reforms to cancel unjust debt and unlock desperately needed funds for climate action in vulnerable nations. Today, 93% of climate-vulnerable countries are trapped in a debt crisis, undermining their ability to respond to climate related disasters and protect their communities.

The lobby also featured powerful speakers in the opening session, including Caroline Lucas MP, former Green Party leader, and Father Charles Chilufya, a Jesuit priest from Kenya and a leading voice on social justice in Africa, who spoke passionately about the devastating impact the climate and debt crisis is having in many African communities.

Father Charles Chilufya said:

“Many countries in the Global South cannot effectively respond to the climate crisis because they are in debt crisis — sending billions to creditors in the Global North instead of investing in climate resilience and protecting their communities. This is not tomorrow's crisis, it is today's emergency. And it is a deeply unjust emergency. This is a time to come together and to demand the change in the Jubilee year. Let’s turn faith into justice and lasting change for our common home.”

Young campaigners join the lobby

Over 100 students from Catholic primary schools to sixth form colleges across the UK joined the lobby, making sure younger voices were heard loud and clear. CAFOD ran interactive activities in Westminster Cathedral Hall, helping children understand the challenges facing climate-vulnerable nations.

Tobias, student at Oscar Romero School in Worthing, said:

“We learned how countries hit by disasters have to borrow money—then have to repay it many times over. That means they can’t respond to new disasters. When we speak to our MPs we give people in low-income countries a voice.”

Tess, student at St Peters Sixth Form in Birmingham, said:

“It’s really important to cancel the debt of these low-income countries to make it fair for everyone and to tackle climate change. My message to my MP is that change needs to happen, they need to listen to our generation, for us and for our children.”

Jessica Bailey, Education Resources Co-ordinator at CAFOD, said:

“I’ve had the privilege of speaking to students at Catholic schools throughout this Jubilee year and it’s clear that young people across the UK want to be part of the conversation around climate change and international debt and so they should be! When they learn about hidden injustices like huge loan repayments for climate vulnerable countries, they want to see change. Many joined the mass lobby to ask their MPs to please, act now."

Christine Allen, CAFOD CEO, said:

“At a time when international solidarity and care for the climate feels like it’s dropped off our political agenda, it is so important to see so many people of all faiths and none and joined in unity to have their voices heard.

“Over 80% of MPs have been contacted through the lobby, and I hope this sends a powerful message to politicians that addressing climate change and global injustices isn’t just important, it’s a moral imperative.”

Andrea Speranza, CAFOD’s Campaign Manager, said:

“To see the huge amount of people from all backgrounds coming to the lobby shows loud and clear how much people care about the climate. The government cannot ignore this anymore. We heard from many people in many constituencies that the conversations they had with MPs were very valuable. The UK must lead bold global reforms to cancel unjust debt and unlock funds to fight a crisis these countries did least to cause. This is about justice and urgent action.” 

Adrian Cannell, a retired teacher from Southport, said:

"I came to speak to my MP about the link between debt and climate crisis. In my parish alone, so far, 125 people have signed the Jubilee petition. I also brought letters from children at the school where I am a governor calling for a fairer world and debt to be cancelled."

CAFOD is encouraging anyone concerned about the global debt crisis to call for debt justice this Jubilee Year by contacting their MP and signing this petition.