As Pope Francis reminds us, persons living in poverty are most affected by climate change. Here’s an opportunity to advocate for them (and our world) in the spirit of Laudato Si and in faithfulness to our Vincentian charism. Save the Planet!

I am sure many of you have been encouraged by the outcome of COP21 (the commitment to environmental change known as “The Paris Agreement”). This agreement was signed by 180 nations last December. However, it will not take effect until it is ratified by 55 countries responsible for at least 55 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Despite all the publicity about the urgency of action on this agreement, as of August 3, only 22 nations had deposited their instrument of ratification with the UN. And, of those, many are small island nations who produce very little carbon emissions but are most seriously affected by climate change.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has invited world leaders to attend a special event on the 21st of September to deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The event will also provide an opportunity for other countries to publicly commit to joining or ratifying the agreement before the end of 2016.

“I urge you to accelerate your country’s domestic process for ratification to the Agreement this year,” said the Secretary General.

At the right column of this article is a list of the nations which have ratified the agreement. If yours has not, consider sending a letter to your country’s leader, urging him or her to save the planet by ratifying the Paris Agreement. Click to download a proposed letter. Simply print, complete, sign, and mail the letter to your country’s leader.

Let’s all work together to save our planet!