Vatican News reported that more than 170 religious organisations from EU member states, representing 33 million European citizens, had launched a formal appeal calling for the phase-out of fossil fuels, a permanent tax on the windfall profits of oil companies, and structural funding for the transition within the EU budget.
This call originated from an initiative in 1997 to end the exploration of new fossil fuels, submitted by a group of non-governmental organisations at the Kyoto climate summit, as well as an assessment of the impact of fossil fuels and redress by those responsible.
In the same vein, the170 religious organisations have now appealed to the EU, at the start of the Irish Presidency, to hold major polluters accountable and lead a just and rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
The initiative, called “Europe, be faithful to our common home,” brings together a broad, multi-party coalition of Catholic and Christian communities across Europe: from the European Alliance of Catholic Women’s Organizations (Andante) to Christian Aid Ireland.
The alliance is essentially asking for 4 things – the gradual, fair, and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels; a permanent tax on the excess profits of oil and gas companies to finance the energy transition; massive investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, and electrification, respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities; and the structural inclusion of climate finance in the EU budget.
Read the article on Vatican News (in Spanish) here.