Catholic campaigners call on MPs to commit to climate action

Emily Thornbury with the young MPCs - image: CAFOD

Source: CAFOD

CAFOD campaigners from around England and Wales travelled to London yesterday, Wednesday 8 May, to meet with their MPs in a parliamentary reception.

The group was made up of CAFOD's MP Correspondents (MPCs), who commit to writing to their MPs three times a year about issues affecting people living in poverty.

The event saw the campaigners meet with their MPs in person to raise their concerns about the impact climate change is having on the lives of some of the poorest communities around the world.

MPCs who attended the reception were calling on MPs to back a 'net zero' target, which would mean that emissions from cars, planes, buildings and farms would have to be rapidly and urgently reduced to avoid dangerous global temperature rises.

At the event, attendees heard from Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry MP and a representative from Caritas Antilles, a Caribbean-based organisation supported by CAFOD which works to empower young people through community projects.

Anna Fraine, who is 23 years old and from the Wirral, addressed MPs at the Parliamentary reception. Anna said: "I was inspired to act and start campaigning after reading Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' and being part of CAFOD's delegation to the COP24 UN climate talks in Poland last December.

"It was a great privilege to be asked to speak at CAFOD's parliamentary reception about my experiences. To be surrounded by such a fantastic group of people from all walks of life, but who share the same motivations to act, guided by their faith, has made me feel even more passionate about my volunteering in the future."

CAFOD's Director, Christine Allen, added: "CAFOD's MP correspondents have already helped to influence government policy. They have successfully brought forward proposals to help tackle climate change and to ensure the UK plays a leading role in supporting the world's poorest communities through overseas aid.

"The parliamentary reception was a brilliant opportunity to speak with MPs and show the level of support from their constituents for the UK to commit to reaching net zero emissions by 2045. The atmosphere in the room was vibrant as we were able to thank our passionate MPCs for the great work they do."

Sign up to become an MPC with CAFOD, visit: https://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/How-to-Campaign/Get-to-know-your-MP