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UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a “global SOS” from Tonga in the Pacific on Tuesday, 27 August,, urging governments to step up climate action to “Save Our Seas” as two new reports revealed how rising sea levels are threatening the vulnerable region and beyond. Speaking during a press conference in the capital, Nuku’alofa, Mr. Guterres called for world leaders to drastically slash global emissions, quickly phase out fossil fuels, and massively boost climate adaptation investments to protect people from current and future risks. “This is a crazy situation: rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making. A crisis that will soon swell to an almost unimaginable scale, with no lifeboat to take us back to safety,” he warned. “But if we save the Pacific, we also save ourselves. The world must act and answer the SOS before it is too late.” Read the Complete article here Source: UN  "Antarctic ecosystems could be disrupted by animals, diseases and rubbish floating from Africa and Australia as rising temperatures melt sea ice buffers, new research suggests... Simulations showed objects from Australia, South Africa, South America and New Zealand reached Antarctica every year, while objects from islands in the Southern Ocean made landfall even more frequently. Read the complete article here Source: The Guardian 
Video message by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
"Indigenous Peoples represent about 6% of the world's population, yet their stewardship signifies an outsized contribution to our global community. They are the keepers of knowledge and traditions that help safeguard some of the most biodiverse areas of our planet. As guardians of the environment, their survival is our survival. Their unique way of life is a testament to the rich tapestry of humanity..." Source: UN "Sea surface temperatures in waters surrounding the Great Barrier Reef this year reached their warmest levels in more than 400 years, new research has found. The findings of the long-term study suggest human-caused climate change is the driving factor behind increasingly high summer temperatures in the Coral Sea, which puts corals under stress and can spur mass bleaching..." Read the rest of the article here Source: ABC News  "Australia’s Indigenous peoples have gained intimate Knowledges of this continent through long-term observations and holistic thinking. They have connections to their traditional estate, known as Country, spanning thousands of generations. As climate change worsens, Indigenous peoples can offer valuable insights into sustainability and resilience. Governments and others increasingly recognise how Indigenous Knowledges can helps us better monitor and adapt to a warmer world. This can lead to better understanding and decision-making..." Read the rest of the article here Source: The Conversation  The Australian embassy to the Holy See has hosted a conference in Rome on the effect of climate change on vulnerable populations among the Pacific Island nations. Mercy Sister Philomena Waira (pictured below) highlighted the ecological and social impacts of foreign mining and logging in Papua New Guinea. Read the rest of the article here Source: CathNews Read and view the work on the theme of Ecological conscience/consciousness in the Oceania region, a research project of the Migrants and Refugees Section (M&R) of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Holy See.  Pope Francis releases his message for the 2024 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and appeals for humanity's conversion so that we acknowledge the disastrous effects of war and set ethical limits on the development of artificial intelligence. Humanity's abuse of nature requires a true conversion and invites us to change our lifestyles. Pope Francis made this appeal in his Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to be held on September 1, 2024, which was published on Thursday, 27 June 2024. The Day's theme this year is “Hope and Act with Creation". Read the news article here. Read the Pope's message here  |