Keep the heat on climate change fight

The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC to avoid some of the most dangerous consequences of climate change is officially dead. This was the essential message of a report released in September by the United Nations. The 1.5ºC limit was the goal set by governments of the world at COP21 in Paris in 2015. While climate change seems to have faded from most of our headlines in favour of trade wars, real wars, and AI, the crisis worsens and the imperative of our faith to act on behalf of our common home remains.

It is hard to believe that already a year has passed since I travelled to Belém, Brazil for the COP30 Climate Change Conference. It was a deeply formative experience and truly a gift to stand with our Canadian bishops in solidarity with the churches of Africa, Asia, and Latin America in bringing the vision and voice of Laudato Si to the annual climate negotiations. 

As I now write, the world is gathering in Antalya, Turkey for COP31. Inspired by my time in Brazil, I will raise my voice here in the pages of the Register each year to share with Catholics how the Church continues to be present each in advocating for our Common Home each year during the Conference of the Parties (COP).

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For COP31 we do not have as large an in-person mission from DPCC as we did in Brazil. Such missions are a significant investment of time and resources and are not done on an annual basis. However, thanks to our different networks, we are nonetheless present in Turkey Our social media officer, Sarah Kabrit, was chosen to be part of the AQOCI youth delegation. AQOCI is an association of Quebec-based organizations for international cooperation. She will help to raise our voice in the negotiations and share her experiences through our social media channels. 

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Freshly arrived in the host city of Antalya she said, “I’m looking forward to connecting with young changemakers from around the world who are advocating for climate justice. I hope to amplify the voices of communities most affected by the climate crisis while bringing a youth perspective to these important conversations.”

We are also present at COP31 through our Caritas Internationalis (CI) and CIDSE networks who have International Secretariat staff present and acting on behalf of all members. Our advocacy priorities through CIDSE and CI are focused on a Just transition away from fossil fuels and climate finance. For those unfamiliar with how the COP climate change conference work, there are two official conference zones – the Blue Zone and the Green Zone.  

The Blue Zone is organized by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and is where the official negotiations take place along with special side-events. You must be accredited by the UNFCCC to enter the Blue Zone. The Green Zone is organized by the host country and is open to the general public. It is designed to engage the wider community in the COP processes. In addition to the official negotiations, the Blue Zone features pavilions where each country highlights its work on climate change as well as conference rooms where ‘side-events’ are held. Side-events are approved by the UNFCCC and organized by governments and civil society.

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Side-events are an important means by which to raise the voice of the Church within the COP process and influence the decision makers responsible for the negotiations while also building community and momentum for our advocacy goals. At COP31 there are no less than 6 different side-events that feature members of CI and CIDSE and their international secretariats. They have titles like, “Faiths for a just transition away from fossil fuels” and “Keep the faith: Putting ethics at the heart of the green transition.”

We do not have to travel to Turkey to be involved. Church leaders here in Canada have also come together to raise an ecumenical voice call to action in a statement entitled, “An Economy of Life.” The signatories (which include DPCC) highlight the fact that 8 out of 10 Canadian news stories about wildfires never mention climate change. They also highlight the fact that “our federal government is expanding fossil fuel production and export capacity at a moment where no credible path to a livable climate allows for it.” The statement, addressed to people of faith in Canada, calls for three actions: to write to the federal government, to speak about climate change, and to join others in public witness. I plan to respond to all three. You can too. 

(Stocking is Deputy Director of Public Awareness & Engagement, Ontario and Atlantic Regions, for Development and Peace.)

A version of this article appeared in the November 15, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Keep the heat on climate change fight".