Cardinal Parolin at COP30: Greater political will needed to address climate change – Vatican News

Report on the Holy See’s Address at the Pre-COP30 Climate Summit in Belém

Assessment of the Paris Agreement and Alignment with SDG 13

At a climate summit in Belém, Brazil, preceding COP30, Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin delivered an address marking the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The Cardinal noted that the challenges identified a decade ago are more relevant today, yet the achievement of the Agreement’s goals, central to SDG 13 (Climate Action), remains distant. The address served as a critical evaluation of international progress and a call to prevent another decade of missed opportunities in global climate efforts.

Socio-Ethical Dimensions and Linkages to SDGs 1, 10, and 16

The report emphasized that the Paris Agreement possesses significant social and ethical relevance beyond its environmental scope. Key points include:

• Impact on Vulnerable Populations: The consequences of climate change disproportionately affect the poorest and most fragile communities, directly engaging SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Environmental Justice: The Cardinal framed the issue as a matter of social, economic, and human justice, urging an integral perspective. This aligns with the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which seeks to ensure justice for all.
• A New Cultural Model: A call was made to transition from a “throwaway culture” to a “culture of care,” a principle that underpins SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

The Holy See’s Strategy for Sustainable Development

Cardinal Parolin outlined the Holy See’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, detailing a two-front strategy that integrates multiple Sustainable Development Goals:

1. Environmental Management: Vatican City State is intensifying its environmental management efforts, as detailed in its Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and National Communication. This practical action directly supports the implementation of SDG 13 (Climate Action).
2. Education in Integral Ecology: The Holy See is committed to promoting an educational process that fosters a cultural model of sustainability based on fraternity. This initiative is a direct contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education), particularly Target 4.7, which focuses on education for sustainable development and global citizenship.

Call to Action for Global Partnership and Renewed Political Will

The address concluded with a strong appeal for renewed global commitment. The Cardinal stressed the need for increased political will to consciously pursue a path of sustainability. This call for collective action and global unity, transcending political and social barriers, directly reflects the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The Holy See affirmed its readiness to support this process, reinforcing the message that the global community is a single human family responsible for a common home.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

Detailed Analysis

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   This is the central theme of the article. The entire text revolves around the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and the urgent need for climate action. Cardinal Parolin’s speech directly addresses the challenges of climate change, stating, “The challenges identified in it [the Paris Agreement] are more relevant today than they were ten years ago.” The Holy See’s commitment to a “net-zero emissions strategy by 2050” is a direct action aimed at combating climate change and its impacts.

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   The article strongly emphasizes the role of education in achieving climate goals. Cardinal Parolin highlights that “the educational component of the implementation of the Paris Agreement is of the utmost importance.” He further explains that the Holy See is committed to “promoting education in integral ecology” and fostering an “educational process that fosters a cultural model of development and sustainability.” This directly links climate action with the need for inclusive and equitable quality education for sustainable development.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   The article connects climate change to social justice and inequality. It is explicitly stated that the Paris Agreement “primarily affects the lives of the poorest and most fragile.” The call for “environmental justice,” which is defined as “a matter of justice – social, economic and human,” underscores the need to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and reduce inequalities.

4. SDG 1: No Poverty

   Closely related to SDG 10, the focus on the “poorest and most fragile” directly connects the climate crisis to the goal of ending poverty. By highlighting that climate change impacts the most vulnerable first, the article implies that effective climate action is essential for protecting livelihoods and building the resilience of the poor against climate-related shocks.

5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The context of the article—a climate summit in Belém attended by “70 world leaders” ahead of COP30—is a clear example of global partnership. Cardinal Parolin’s concluding call to “increase our political will” and his statement that “there are no frontiers or barriers, political or social, behind which we can hide” is a direct appeal for strengthened international cooperation and global partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

Specific Targets Identified

Detailed Analysis

1. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   The article references several national-level climate strategies. The discussion of “Nationally Determined Contributions” is a core component of the Paris Agreement, representing national climate plans. Furthermore, the Holy See’s commitment to “adopt a net-zero emissions strategy by 2050” and the submission of its “first BTR (Biennial Transparency Report) as well as in the recent National Communication” are concrete examples of integrating climate measures into national policy and reporting frameworks.

2. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…

   This target is directly addressed when Cardinal Parolin states the Holy See’s commitment to “promoting education in integral ecology.” The goal is to use an “educational process that fosters a cultural model of development and sustainability based on fraternity and stewardship of creation,” which aligns perfectly with the aim of education for sustainable development (ESD) as outlined in this target.

3. Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events…

   The article’s emphasis that climate change “primarily affects the lives of the poorest and most fragile” points directly to this target. The call for “environmental justice” is an appeal to create policies that protect these vulnerable groups, thereby reducing their exposure and building their resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change.

4. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…

   The article is set at a “climate summit attended by 70 world leaders” which is a clear manifestation of a global partnership. The entire purpose of such a meeting, and the subsequent COP30, is to foster international cooperation and political will to address a shared global challenge, which is the essence of this target.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Detailed Analysis

1. Submission of National Climate Reports:

   The article explicitly mentions the “first BTR (Biennial Transparency Report) as well as in the recent National Communication submitted by the Holy See.” These official documents are key indicators used to track the implementation of national climate policies and commitments under the Paris Agreement (related to Target 13.2).

2. Adoption of Long-Term Strategies:

   The Holy See’s commitment to a “net-zero emissions strategy by 2050” is an implied indicator. The number of countries and entities adopting such long-term, ambitious climate goals is a measure of progress towards the objectives of the Paris Agreement (related to Target 13.2).

3. Integration of Sustainable Development Education:

   The commitment to “promoting education in integral ecology” is an indicator of progress. Progress could be measured by the extent to which educational curricula and national education policies incorporate principles of sustainability, ecology, and climate change (related to Target 4.7).

4. High-Level Political Engagement:

   The convening of the “climate summit attended by 70 world leaders” and the upcoming “United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30)” are themselves indicators of ongoing global partnership and political will to address climate change (related to Target 17.16).

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vaticannews.va