As world leaders gather in Belém for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), the International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements (FIMCAP) is urging governments to move beyond rhetoric and take bold, tangible steps toward a just and sustainable future.

Representing millions of young Catholics across four continents, FIMCAP’s delegation, drawn from Belgium, Ghana, the Philippines, and Germany, is demanding urgent action to confront the growing climate crisis.

The organisation emphasized that the climate emergency is no longer a distant threat but a lived reality, as record heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires devastate communities worldwide.

“Humanity is running out of time, but not out of responsibility. COP30 must mark a turning point for global climate justice,” said Fidelis Stehle, a representative of FIMCAP.

The group’s advocacy is rooted in Catholic social teaching and inspired by the call of Pope Leo XIV for ecological conversion and solidarity, as reflected in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. In a message delivered at the conference by Cardinal Parolin, the Pope appealed for urgent collective action anchored in responsibility and justice.

From Ghana, Antonio Yayrator Korkuvi stressed that climate change is not merely an environmental issue but a moral one. “Young people all over the world are calling for urgent steps to address this crisis. We cannot inherit a world that is destroyed,” he said.

FIMCAP’s delegation is advocating for commitments that prioritize justice, finance, and energy transformation, particularly through protecting civic spaces, ensuring gender equality, and empowering indigenous and local communities.

“For young people, COP30 is not a debate about the distant future, it is about survival, justice, and dignity,” said Prisca Kuwode, another delegate from Ghana.

Since its first engagement at COP25 in 2019, FIMCAP has been a consistent voice for youth and climate justice. The organisation continues to push for an inclusive transition that upholds human rights while aligning climate finance with the 1.5°C target.

“We call on all leaders in Belém to act with courage, not for profit, but for people and the planet,” urged Ernne John Dolor from the Philippines.

“COP30 must be remembered as the moment the world finally acted together, for our common home, for the 1.5°C goal, and for future generations.”

FIMCAP’s message is clear: the time for promises has passed. What the world needs now is solidarity, justice, and concrete action to safeguard the planet for generations to come.