FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Katie Zakrzewski | 501-618-0234 | katie@catholicclimatecovenant.org
November 7, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC — Dozens of Catholic leaders have signed onto a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on the United States to honor its commitments to the Paris Agreement and participate in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belém, Brazil. The letter will be delivered to the State Department on Nov. 10. The letter was signed by 61 leaders and directors of faith institutions and organizations.
“As people of faith and as leaders in the Catholic community, we write with both prayerful concern and hope as the global community prepares to convene at COP30 in Belém, Brazil,” the letter begins. “Situated in the heart of the Amazon, this summit represents more than a diplomatic meeting — it is a pivotal moral moment that calls us to a conversion of heart and to bold, collective action for the care of our common home.”
“At this urgent moment in the climate crisis, the world needs more — not less — multilateral cooperation. The COP process remains one of the few spaces where nations, faith leaders, and civil society can come together to forge solutions to the climate emergency,” said Lisa Sullivan, the Integral Ecology Senior Program Officer for the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, one of the organizations that helped write the letter.
The letter continues, expressing regret at the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, asking Secretary of State Rubio to reconsider the administration’s decision.
“As Catholic leaders, we must express our deep regret that the United States government has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and, consequently, will not be participating in the climate negotiations at COP30. In this crucial moment, we respectfully ask you to reconsider this decision,” the letter reads. “Re-engagement would demonstrate moral leadership, affirm the nation’s commitment to the common good, and honor the deep values of justice, solidarity, and responsibility that have long defined our nation. COP30 offers an opportunity for the United States to lead the way in fostering a just transition to a sustainable future and economy, financing adaptation and resilience for the world’s most vulnerable.”
“As Catholics, we are called to stand with our global neighbors and future generations in safeguarding God’s creation,” said Dan Misleh, Founder and Executive Director of Catholic Climate Covenant. “By rejoining the Paris Agreement and engaging in COP30, the United States can demonstrate the moral leadership our faith demands — one rooted in justice, solidarity, and hope for our common home.”
You can read the letter in its entirety here. For more information or media inquiries, contact Katie Zakrzewski | 501-618-0234 | katie@catholicclimatecovenant.org
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