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CAFOD director urges voters to challenge candidates on climate crisis


Christine Allen, director of CAFOD has urged voters in the upcoming General Election to challenge their parliamentary candidates on how they will tackle the climate crisis.

On 12 November, Christine visited Rugby School to speak about how faith communities can work together to respond to poverty overseas and to share her first-hand experiences of how people around the world are already being affected by the climate crisis.

The event, organised by Rugby Inter-Faith Forum, attracted over fifty Rugby Inter-Faith Forum supporters, and a similar number of Politics students from Rugby School. The evening began with a simple vegetarian meal, and after the inspiring and informative lecture, there was an opportunity for questions with tea and coffee.

Christine Allen, director of CAFOD, said: "We hear a lot about the 'climate emergency' and it is true that we face a crisis. Lots of local authorities and even our own parliament have declared a climate emergency. Yet, most of the coverage talks about the future trajectory.

"For millions of the poorest around the world, it's an emergency because it's happening now. Women, girls and other marginalised groups - the groups who have contributed least - are feeling the biggest effects.

"And, as all industrialised nations played their part contributing to the problem, we must help fix it."

CAFOD is part of one of the largest aid networks in the world, with a presence in 165 countries, and its local experts help some of the most difficult-to-reach people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Christine continued: "The UK has already committed to achieving 'net zero' emissions - to limit the amount of greenhouse gases produced to a level that can be absorbed - but the promise to act won't get us to a world where the climate crisis is controlled.

"We need policies to make net zero a reality - and this is our opportunity to think differently about our future. To consider how we eradicate global poverty, tackle the climate crisis and protect and restore the natural world.

"Why not ask your parliamentary candidates what their party would do to put us on the right path towards net zero emissions?

"There are big questions facing the world in 2020, and if we're to truly tackle the climate emergency - our politicians need to know we are waiting."

Over the past decade, CAFOD and its supporters have tirelessly campaigned for the government to act to tackle climate change.

As part of the Climate Coalition, it recently took part in the biggest environmental lobby in history and is now calling on everyone to ensure issues like climate change, aid and the treatment of refugees and migrants are not overlooked at the upcoming General Election.

Find out more at: www.cafod.org.uk/News/UK-news/Catholic-election-guide


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