One hour for climate justice
Ten years ago, COP21 in Paris resulted in an ambitious agreement aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5°C, a few months after the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’. A veritable wake-up call on the degradation of Creation and a vigorous exhortation to reject our materialistic culture of waste, this text had a global resonance. Already mobilised on this issue for a long time, most Christian churches are resolutely committed to the protection of Creation and climate justice. Citizen movements and large-scale popular mobilisations have also grown, leading to the adoption of ambitious legislation in democratic states.
Nevertheless, 10 years on, the results have not lived up to expectations. The Covid pandemic has ‘confined’ the enthusiasm of environmentalists: greenhouse gas emissions have begun to rise inexorably year after year, populations of living species have collapsed, chemical and plastic pollution has contaminated the Earth and the oceans, and inequalities and injustices have grown. In our country, several setbacks have been visible in recent months in terms of commitments to protect the climate and the planet, even in climate negotiations, where France is delaying the setting of European carbon emission reduction targets, weakening the European position.
It is in this context that COP 30 opens in Belém, Brazil, on 10 November 2025. Between the revision of countries’ emission reduction commitments by 2030, the financing of the transition for the poorest countries and the protection of tropical forests, this global climate summit is billed as a major event.
Faced with these crucial issues, we Christians cannot remain indifferent. Representatives of the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches in France urge us to respond to God’s call through the voices of the Earth and the most vulnerable.²
We wish to echo this cry in silence by gathering in public spaces. Circles of Silence are a visible, peaceful and inclusive way of raising awareness of climate issues and a symbol as well as a means of conversion, both personally and collectively. Whatever our beliefs, spirituality or faith, we will be united in raising awareness and challenging consciences, in increasing our compassion for the victims of global warming and in cultivating our hope. For believers, we can intercede so that the leaders gathered in Brazil take courageous decisions that translate into action.
We invite all people of good will to gather in public spaces to demonstrate our commitment to the world. Signs, banners and leaflets can carry our voice. We call on everyone to join us in the circles of silence already listed on the dedicated page or to propose new ones in their cities.
As we celebrate the 800th anniversary of Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of Brother Sun, let us rise to the challenge for Sister Mother Earth and all our human and non-human brothers and sisters whom she shelters and nourishes!
1. CECEF statement of 1 September 2025 for the opening of the Season of Creation: https://eglise.catholique.fr/approfondir-sa-foi/vivre-sa-foi-a-tous-les-ages/lunite-des-chretiens-2/declarations-du-cecef/442137-proposition-conseil-deglises-chretiennes-france-temps-de-creation-2025/
Signatories:
Action catholique ouvrière
Anastasis
A Rocha
Centre de recherche et d’actions sociales (CERAS)
Communauté du Chemin neuf
Communauté du Puits de Jacob
Communauté Mondiale pour la Méditation Chrétienne en France (WCCM France)
Chrétiens Unis pour la Terre
CVX – Réseau Laudato Si
Economy of Francesco France
Eglise Verte
Espérer pour le Vivant
Fédération protestante de France
Filles du coeur de Marie
Greenfaith
Les Amis de La Vie
Lutte & Contemplation
Mission de la mer
Mouvement des Focolari en France
Mouvement Rural de Jeunesse Chrétienne
Province France-Belgique des Franciscains
Province de France-Belgique des soeurs auxiliatrices
Semaines Sociales de France
Soeurs du Prado