U.S. Bishop Chairmen Express Support for Commitments at Leaders Summit on Climate

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden convened the Leaders Summit on Climate on April 22-23, which included a video message by Pope Francis. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City and Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, respective chairmen of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committees on Domestic Justice and Human Development and International Justice and Peace, have released the following statement in support of the Holy Father:

“Pope Francis addressed a virtual gathering of over 40 leaders from the highest levels of world government at the White House’s Leaders Summit on Climate, saying, ‘our concern is to see that the environment is cleaner, healthier and conserved, and to take care of nature so that it takes care of us.’

“We commend the Biden Administration’s commitment to climate stewardship and environmental justice, consistent with the decision to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. The Leaders Summit on Climate reflects renewed American leadership on climate change, and the pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030 is an ambitious and welcome national goal. Consistent with the Holy Father’s call for integral ecology, the movement towards a net-zero emission world must also emphasize just transition so that working families who rely on the energy sector are not left behind.”

Previous USCCB advocacy related to the Paris Agreement can be found at the following links:

• Catholic Leaders Express Hope with President’s Announcement that U.S. Will Rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (January 21, 2021)
• USCCB and CRS Letter to Secretary of State Pompeo on Paris Agreement (November 14, 2019)
• Letter to Congress Urging Funding for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (November 10, 2017)
• U.S. Bishops Chairman Regrets the President’s Withdrawal From The Paris Agreement (June 1, 2017)
• U.S. Bishops Chairman Urges the President to Honor The Paris Agreement (June 1, 2017)
• The Paris Agreement and Global Solidarity (June 1, 2017)
• Letter to Secretary of State Tillerson Regarding Care for Creation (February 17, 2017) (This letter was also delivered to the Secretary of the Treasury and the National Security Advisor on May 5, 2017)

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