Bishop John Arnold statement to NJPN

Image: NJPN

Bishop John Arnold sent this message to the National Justice and Peace 'Opening doors to a sustainable world for future generations' conference.

I am delighted to be able to provide a few thoughts for the National Justice and Peace Network "Opening doors to a sustainable world for future generations" conference which brings together Catholics and others to talk about and plan action on environmental issues and their relationship to other social justice questions. Thank you for all the work you are doing in this area.

I would like to reflect on where we are 10 years after the publication of Laudato si.

We can begin with good news concerning the growth of initiatives in parishes and schools to promote an understanding of the need to care for the environment. This includes a number of programmes in primary schools, as well as Cafod's "Live Simply" campaign which is gaining more support in both parishes and schools. In addition, the "Guardians of Creation" project is reaching into the dioceses of England and Wales and even gaining attention abroad. I am delighted by the impact of this work, much of which has been inspired by Laudato si.

Internationally, there has also been good news, especially with the impact of the Islamic document "Al-Mizan" which so closely mirrors the contents of Laudato si.

But more generally, the news is bad. Climate change events are affecting every continent. By way of example, fires in Los Angeles caused an estimated $250 billion of damage earlier this year. The United Nations has said that more than 150 'unprecedented' climate disasters struck world in 2024. These have a much greater impact on the poor, of course, hence the link between environmental issues and a range of other social justice challenges such as debt relief.

There remains a lack of will on the part of politicians. Recent announcements suggest that our carbon reduction targets are now not credible and will not be met, and politicians from a number of parties are backtracking. Of course, we have to be aware of the pressures people are facing in relation to living costs and, related to this, the need to build more houses and infrastructure. But climate change is an existential threat and so we must pray for our politicians that they will be courageous - there are choices to be made. As Christians involved in public life, we should help our politicians make the right choices through prayer, influence and action.

The death of Pope Francis deprives the world of one of the strongest advocates for environmental action, and this year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Laudato si. We are still making plans for the anniversary. But I can announce that the Department for Social Justice of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales will hold a major inter-faith event in Manchester. There can be no better way to remember Pope Francis than to pray for the repose of his soul whilst also working to promote the message of Laudato si ever more effectively,

Bishop John Arnold is the Lead Bishop for the Environment, Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales