Ethiopian Catholic Church Held an International Conference on  Climate Justice

The Ethiopian Catholic Church Held an International conference on Climate Justice from June 2-4/ 2010 at the Ethiopian Catholic Church Bishops Conference Center, Addis Ababa.

The objectives of the conference were to enhance conceptual understanding of climate justice, to re-ensure the commitment of the Catholic Church for actions promoting climate justice and to develop strategies and action point for the Ethiopian Catholic Church to fully participate in the global and national dialogue and actions to ensure Climate Justice.

During the conference reflection of the Catholic Social Teaching and Impacts of Climate Change, challenges and opportunities under the context of Ethiopia, climate policy scenario, climate negotiations, responses to climate change and adaptive strategies for the Catholic Church were discussed thoroughly.

Participants also discussed in groups and proposed various propositions for the Church.

Among the proposals of the researchers and participants, awareness creation, advocacy and lobbying, local fund contribution, covering land with tree, draught cycle management, community mobilization, networking and linkage, increasing community resilient were mentioned for the way forward.

The actions proposed to be shared by Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat and Diocesan Secretariats are institutionalization of climate change and linkage with Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations.

Human, material and financial resources, strong networking and documentation and disseminations are proposed as means of actions.

Representatives of Diocesan Secretariats, government agencies, local and international NGOs and religious institutions participated in the conference.

Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat

Social Communications and Public Relation Coordination