Press release
COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma will arrive at the Vatican City tomorrow to meet with Church figures to discuss the importance of faith leadership in tackling climate change
- Mr Sharma to meet leading Vatican figures including Cardinal Parolin
- Catholic Church key in promoting all-of-society approach to climate action
- Visit marks the next step on the President-Designate’s work with countries to make COP26 a success
Mr Sharma is expected to meet Cardinal Parolin of the Holy See, as well as other Vatican leaders central in encouraging climate action on behalf of the Catholic Church.
The President-Designate has been travelling extensively ahead of the summit in Glasgow this November. He has been taking the Presidency’s four goals for COP26 across the world: limit warming to 1.5 degrees, adapting to protect communities and natural habitats, mobilising climate finance and working together to accelerate action.
In the Vatican City he will make it especially clear how important it is that the international community unites to support people who are most vulnerable to the impacts of the changing climate in the run up to COP26.
Particularly, how together we can help secure climate finance and debt solutions to support a green and resilient recovery from COVID-19 in the world’s poorest countries.
He will also express how pleased the UK is that the Pope last year committed the Vatican to achieving net zero by 2050.
Ahead of the trip, COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said:
“I am delighted to be visiting the Vatican City to learn about steps Catholics are taking around the world on climate change.
“I am encouraged by the Catholic Church’s recognition of how urgently the world needs to act if we are to limit warming to 1.5C and protect our planet and people from the intensifying impacts of climate change.”
“Faith groups have a vital role to play in raising awareness and ambition around the world. Only through everyone working together can we bring about real change and leave COP26 with a successful outcome.”
Notes to editors:
The COP26 President Designate will be in the Vatican City on Monday 10 May
Other recent travel includes Denmark, Japan. He will move on to Italy after the Vatican City.
Published 9 May 2021
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