Global Catholic charity, Caritas, joined other Catholic agencies and faith community pilgrims heading to Glasgow this week. Caritas NZ says the pilgrims are in Glasgow to pray and to press world leaders for strong action at COP26 – the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Religious leaders representing Read more
The parent body of Caritas NZ, Caritas Internationalis, is launching a special appeal to bring medical care to the population affected by the ongoing shelling in Gaza. Caritas Jerusalem is preparing to respond to the urgent needs of the thousands injured and the thousands of people forced to leave their homes either because they were Read more
Church leaders, Caritas and Christian World Service are calling for an increase in peace efforts and humanitarian aid from the New Zealand Government and support from the New Zealand public. Leaders of the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, along with the Quakers, have addressed their members in an Open Letter encouraging them to support their Read more
The proposed Resource Management Act ( RMA ) changes must keep promotion of sustainable environmental management as the main purpose of the Resource Management Act, and not use affordable housing as camouflage for significant changes, says Caritas. The Catholic agency for justice, peace and development, Caritas points out that proposals recognising infrastructure and economic growth Read more
Despite 220kph winds and heavy rains lashing the Philippines since Typhoon Hagupit made landfall on Saturday. Casualties from the storm have been minimal however, there has already been significant damage left in the wake of the typhoon, with 80 per cent of homes destroyed in some areas. Donations to assist with the humanitarian response and Read more
Caritas has developed an 80 page guide for teachers in ways to nurture kaitiakitanga (stewardship) of the Warawara Forest in Northland. The Warawara Forest resource aims to teach students to be protectors of the environment resource aims to teach students to be protectors of the environment. It is called Te Warawara: Te Wairua o te iwi Read more
Caritas supports the government’s prioritising of the Pacific for direct climate change related funding, rather than making a major contribution to the global Green Climate Fund. At the G20 summit in Australia on the weekend, Prime Minister John Key pledged $3 million to the Fund, but said New Zealand would continue to focus on the Read more
Voices from Oceania recently gathered by Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand in an environment report lend weight to the latest United Nations report calling for dramatic cuts in fossil fuel use to avoid catastrophic and irreversible climate change impacts. “People across Oceania are already losing shorelines and experiencing rising temperatures and unusual weather patterns that have Read more
New Zealand should use its voice at the UN to get more international climate change funding to the Pacific communities that most need it says the director of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Julianne Hickey. “At United Nations level we certainly need for there to be a commitment from the countries that are causing the environmental challenges Read more
The United Nations Climate Change Summit began on Monday in New York. The Climate Change Summit is trying to find agreement on ways to limit further environmental damage. “The people most affected – at grass roots level and on the coastal edge – must be part of those discussions,” says Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand director Julianne Hickey. Read more