Policy and research: Climate and environment

CAFOD's policy and research papers on climate and the environment.

Communities all over the planet are already experiencing the effects of climate change, from unpredictable and changing weather patterns to extreme weather events. These changes are pushing individuals over the poverty line, destroying ecosystems and livelihoods, forcing migration, and threatening the survival of families and communities.

Those who contributed the least to the problem have been hit the hardest.

Key areas of work

Specifically, CAFOD is calling for:

ambitious action to keep warming below 1.5°C, including fully funded policies to ensure the UK is on track for net carbon zero and diplomatic action as COP 26 President to ensure other countries deliver on their climate promises
support for the poorest and most climate-vulnerable communities, ensuring that the $100 billion/year climate finance goal for low-income countries is delivered in the forms of grants, not loans
an end all support of fossil fuels, at home and overseas, including gas.

Current predictions place the planet on a pathway to around 4°C of warming by the end of the century - well over the 1.5°C limit that the world needs to keep within to prevent climate and planetary catastrophe.

The simple cause of climate change is the historic and current emission of greenhouse gases, primarily from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. This is exacerbated by contributions from sectors such as agriculture, which is a key driver in deforestation and land use change.

We must end carbon emissions from fossil fuels and other sectors, and countries in the global north must lead the way. Wealthy countries must also support communities to respond to the effects of climate change, through financial and technical support, and face up to our historic responsibilities as the main polluters.