The moral imperative: What hope for climate progress when vulnerable countries are drowning in debt?

As world leaders gather at COP30 in Brazil, the moral imperative can no longer be ignored: to listen to those facing the worst impacts of the climate crisis, and remove barriers to help those who are least to blame. Our world is crying out for a coalition of the willing, with the courage to engage in meaningful and lasting action on climate, and this is even more important, in the context of aid cuts.

Pope Leo calls on everyone, including world leaders to put greed and self-interest aside, saying: “The world needs honest and courageous entrepreneurs and communicators who care for the common good… and have the courage to ask themselves important questions:

"For whom and for what are we working? How are we making the world a better place?"

It was encouraging to see HRH Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the Heads of State meeting, representing the UK and showing leadership and vision at this critical time. Temperatures are rising, and future generations cannot wait. As Pope Leo XIV also said, the path to maintaining a 1.5 degree ceiling will be “long and complex”.

COP30 comes at an important time for the world’s poorest communities - particularly Indigenous Peoples, who are present in greater numbers than ever at this summit. The world must listen to their experiences, in the Amazon and elsewhere, learn from their knowledge and wisdom of living in harmony with their surroundings, and do all we can to support a just transition and build a better world, together.

Representing all Indigenous Peoples, on the COP30 Global Task Force, is our CAFOD partner Sinéia do Vale, leader of the Wapixana people in Brazil. She says a positive outcome from COP30 would be for world leaders to include the demarcation of indigenous lands, as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions:

“We count on all the leaders who see the Indigenous Peoples as the first to feel the impact of the climate change on their lands, where we don't have air conditioning to press a button so that global warming can slow down.”

Most importantly, we must assist poorer countries to reach their climate targets, providing relief from unfair debt burdens that prevent growth and spending on infrastructure, and leave lower-income countries caught in a cycle of vulnerability and poverty.

CAFOD CEO, Christine Allen, says: “It is a matter of fairness that high-income countries such as the UK, who became rich from polluting coal-, oil-, and gas-fuelled economic development, support poor countries financially both to decarbonise and to adapt to a vastly more volatile climate. Over 93 per cent of climate-vulnerable countries are trapped in a debt crisis, undermining their ability to respond to climate related disasters and protect their communities. The UK must lead bold global reforms to cancel unjust debt and unlock funds to fight a crisis these countries did least to cause.”

Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop for the Environment, is calling for responsible leadership, and for governments to make good on their environmental pledges.

“Climate action is not a luxury for calmer times. It is an urgent moral and practical necessity. I invite all Catholics to pray that leaders gathered at COP30 will show courage and solidarity to tackle the climate emergency.”

“I invite Catholics to support CAFOD’s campaign to urge the UK government to take decisive on the climate emergency. You can take part by sending a letter to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband via this link: COP30: Take action on the climate crisis, and by doing so, make your voice heard.”