Holy See on COP26: Progress made but time is running out

By Vatican News staff reporter

In a statement issued to the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, the Holy See Delegation praises the commitments that States have made in their pledges to fight global warming.

More to be done

The delegation describes the ambitious commitments made by States to limit the rise of the global average temperature to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, and to provide the needed financial resources to do so as “promising,” adding that it is “indeed essential for the survival of the most vulnerable communities.”

Noting that there is “more to be done,” the group also stresses that “it is important to be proactive in finding effective ways to implement the pledges made.”

During the conference, the Holy See Delegation brought the concerns of Pope Francis for our "common home” before the participants of the COP26, emphasizing the human face of the climate crisis, and its impact on the poorest and those who have done the least to cause it.

Emerging “gaps”

The delegation highlights that over the last two weeks “various ‘gaps’ have emerged in the fields of mitigation, adaptation, and financing.”

The statement goes on to stress that “the resources made available for these three aspects, which are fundamental for achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement, will need to be strengthened and renewed in order to achieve these goals.”

Need for clear roadmap

The Holy See, it continues, “hopes that COP26 can reach an agreement on a clear roadmap to close these gaps soon, with developed countries taking the lead.”

In particular, the delegation notes that the issue of loss and damage is “critical to those communities that are most vulnerable to climate change, as was also recognized in the joint appeal by faith leaders and scientists on 4th October.”

No time to waste

In conclusion, the Holy See Delegation underlines that time is of the essence and expresses the hope that the final decisions of this Conference “may be inspired by a genuine sense of responsibility towards present and future generations, as well as the care of our common home, and that these decisions may truly respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.”