Catholic youth demands more courage in climate protection and social justice!

Catholic youth demands more courage in climate protection and social justice!

Österreich - this day, May 21, 2025, the Catholic Youth Austria The 10-year effect of the papal encyclical "Laudato Si '" as an opportunity to demand more determined action against the climate crisis and social injustice. The organization has developed a subject cyclical to make the content of the encyclical tangible for youth lessons. On May 24th, the official release day of "Laudato Si '", a handout is also presented that takes up current developments and methods of youth pastoral.

Elisabeth Wanek, the Federal President of the Catholic Youth, emphasizes the topicality of the encyclical and emphasizes the need for a further development of the discourse. This is done in the context that over 300,000 children and adolescents in Austria are at risk of poverty and exclusion and suffer from the effects of the climate crisis. Rafael Haigmoser, the chairman, criticizes that decision -makers often do not make sustainable and social decisions and refers to savings in climate protection in the current budget, while fossil subsidies continue to exist.

global challenges of the climate crisis

The true dimension of the climate crisis can also be felt in international discussions. According to the Laudato si’-initiative there is a broad scientific consensus on the worrying warming of the climate system, which is accompanied by serious environmental and social effects. This warming leads, among other things, to an increase in sea level and an increase in extreme weather events, which particularly affect developing countries in the global south.

In the poorest countries, many people rely on natural resources, which makes them particularly vulnerable. The climate crisis exacerbates existing inequalities and leads to a vicious circle of poverty and environmental damage. The loss of tropical forests and the persistent decomposition of frozen organic material increase the carbon dioxide emissions, which further fueled climate change. According to the Federal Center for Political Education also has serious social effects, since the poorest countries historically have the lowest per-head-emissions, While the richest countries, especially in the global north, have a great responsibility for the emissions caused.

climate justice and social responsibility

The concept of climate justice is becoming increasingly central to many activists and organizations. This movement not only requires the reduction of emissions, but also a fair distribution of the costs and loads of climate protection measures. Women and disadvantaged groups are often disproportionately affected by the effects of the climate crisis, which increases the existing social inequality. Catholic youth sees the need to show solidarity with the people affected and to demand a fair participation in decisions.

Pope Francis also calls for acting actively for the protection of the planet and humans, and reminds us that ecological and social crises cannot be viewed in isolation. It is a request to recognize the roots of the problems and act together to find sustainable solutions that protect both the planets and the socially disadvantaged groups.

In view of the current global situation and the experiences of the past ten years, Catholic youth sees the reason for optimism despite setbacks that a change is possible through collective action.