Did you miss a critical event this week?

Pope Francis and 40 faith leaders representing 84% of the world’s people who identify with a faith met and signed a climate appeal Oct. 4. Many of us missed this unprecedented event, just as we are missing the call to care for Our Common Home and take action to address climate change.

The appeal made at the Vatican addresses all governments participating in the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland from Oct. 31-Nov.12. The strong document calls for decisive international action by governments implores leaders to “safeguard, restore and heal our wounded humanity and the home entrusted to our stewardship.”

Signed by the religious leaders of major traditions, it implores the world to listen and act. “Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home. We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert to our children.”

Six years ago before the UN meeting in Parish where 195 countries committed to a Paris Climate Agreement to keep global temperature rises below two degrees Celsius, Pope Francis published “Laudato Si” and major religious traditions published letters and documents calling for climate action. I was in Paris for that monumental meeting where thousands stood applauding with hope and gratitude at the signing of the agreement.

The leadership of the world’s religious leaders and communities played a major part in bringing the ethical and moral imperative before the international body constructing and affirming the Paris Climate Agreement. Today the fires, floods, droughts and unprecedented storms remind us daily that our voices must grow in strength to push our leaders to action. Many opportunities invite us to engagement.

These past two weeks the Environmental Improvement Board hearing on Ozone rules to address methane pollution found dozens of people of faith around New Mexico offering public comment. Religious leaders continue to call Congress regarding a strong climate infrastructure package at the federal level.

Scripture instructs us “where your heart is there will be your treasure.” What we spend time doing reflects where our hearts reside. If we love God, our neighbors and creation, then some of our hearts work must be dedicated to love in action for a livable home.

We must listen to and act upon the appeal of religious leaders from this important meeting that hardly received a headline. Their invitation, “let us commit ourselves to a future shaped by interdependence and co-responsibility,” is the call for each of us. Urgent action is needed especially by those of us most responsible for carbon emissions causing climate change and the disasters, human suffering and extinctions we face. Religious leaders are inviting actions like transition to clean energy, to sustainable land use practices, and for responsible financing of development by financial institutions, banks and investors.

“Our faiths and spiritualties teach a duty to care for the human family and for the environment in which it lives,” said the document. “We are deeply interdependent with each other and with the natural world. We are not limitless masters of our planet and its resources.”

Joan Brown, OSF is a Franciscan sister and the Executive Director of New Mexico and El Paso Region Interfaith Power and Light. NMIPL is a religious voice for climate justice that engages people of faith and conscience in prayer and action. To get engaged, contact info@nm-ipl.org.

Sr. Joan Brown, Sr.