African religious leaders and climate change activists announced on September 20 that an international treaty similar to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which governs the production of nuclear weapons, is aimed at halting the production and use of fossil fuels, the main cause of climate change. expressed support for.
“As people of faith, we have a moral obligation to protect God’s creation,” said Laudato, a global network of Catholics working to ameliorate climate change in the spirit of Pope Francis’ encyclical. -Ashley Kitisha, Africa Coordinator for the Shi Movement, said: Same name. “The Fossil Fuel Treaty gives us a concrete way to meet this obligation by advocating for preserving the environment for future generations.”
Kitisha was speaking at a media briefing held as part of Season of Creation. Season of Creation is an event observed by Christian denominations and Christian climate change activists every year from September 1st to October 4th. On the Day of Prayer for Creation, leaders from the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church joined the movement, sponsoring prayers and actions to call attention to climate change.
The 2024 theme, “Hoping and Acting with Creation,” challenges Christians and the world at large to consider what organizers claim is a sacred responsibility in protecting the planet.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative began in September 2022, when Vanuatu, a small Pacific island nation, called for the United Nations General Assembly to negotiate such an agreement. In December of the same year, another South Pacific state, Tuvalu, made a similar call in the plenary session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
It has since gained momentum, with support from the Vatican, the European Parliament and 101 Nobel laureates. “While we are making progress, there is still much work to do. We will continue to build momentum, engage more faith communities, and urge governments and international organizations to recognize the urgent need for this Convention.” We have to ask,” Kitisha said on Friday.
Papa Prince, the initiative’s African activist, explained at a media event that although 13 Pacific states are leading the push, the initiative is open to all countries. “It will be fully discussed when a significant number of heads of state are at the table. We are very open to countries willing to negotiate,” he said. “I urge African countries to join the discussion. We urge all faiths to support this.”
The treaty has three pillars. A global transition to renewable energy. Non-proliferation. The focus is on halting the expansion of new coal, oil and gas production. Just phase-out focuses on phasing out existing fossil fuel production.
According to Prince, fossil fuel use has emitted 86% of the world’s carbon dioxide over the past decade, contributing to climate change on the continent. He explained that while Africa’s fossil fuel sector is largely foreign-owned, much of the extracted fuel is exported to overseas markets. According to the report, developed countries are responsible for most of the carbon emissions.
Yet, despite decades of coal, oil and gas extraction on the continent, 600 million people in Africa do not have electricity or electricity.
On September 10, Auxiliary Bishop Leonard Njadi Njaté of the Archdiocese of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the treaty is a moral obligation in the best interests of humanity.
“Indeed, it is morally honest to take a clear stand against the proliferation of fuels, given the many risks to human health, well-being, and fulfillment. We cannot remain indifferent to the risks that threaten human life.” he said at an online conference organized by the Laudato Si Movement Africa.
Njaté is responsible for ecological pastoral management and environmental protection for the archdiocese, which is located in the Congo Basin, one of the world’s largest carbon sinks. He called on governments to prepare to ratify the treaty and provide developed countries with the resources to transition to renewable energy.
“We now need a treaty that blocks the expansion of new coal, oil and gas projects and forges a broad consensus to manage the global transition away from fossil fuels,” Bishop said.
