Climate justice must be the measure of success at COP31
Jesuit Social Services
Key Facts:- Representatives from Jesuit Social Services' Centre for Just Places will attend COP31 in Türkiye, joining global Jesuit networks to advocate for ambitious climate action grounded in ecological justice and equity.
- The organisation will support young people from across the Asia-Pacific region, including First Peoples, to participate in COP31-related engagement in partnership with the River Above Asia and Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN).
- Jesuit Social Services emphasises that climate change disproportionately affects those who contribute least to it, including First Peoples, low-income households, and marginalised communities, reflecting and deepening existing inequalities.
- In early 2027, the organisation will release the latest version of its Dropping off the Edge research, mapping socio-economic and environmental disadvantage across every community in Australia.
Representatives of Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places will attend COP31 in Turkiye next week, joining global and regional Jesuit networks to advocate for ambitious climate action grounded in ecological justice, equity and the voices of communities on the frontline of climate impacts.
In partnership with the regional River Above Asia and Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN), the organisation will support and accompany a number of young people from across the Asia-Pacific region to participate in COP31-related engagement.
“We are grateful to be attending CO31 alongside young people from various parts of the Asia-Pacific region, including First Peoples, who have the shared experience of their daily lives being impacted by climate change,” says Michael Fendel, Ecological Justice Coordinator at Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places.
“The knowledge, leadership and lived experience of young people on the frontline of climate impacts must be critical in climate decision-making both locally and globally."
“Climate change is a matter of environmental, social and intergenerational justice, which reflects and deepens existing inequalities in power, wealth, access to resources and decision-making. This is demonstrated in the fact that those who contribute least to climate change – including First Peoples, low-income households and marginalised communities – are often most affected by its consequences despite having played the smallest role in causing them,” says Kate Lowsby, General Manager at Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places.
Established in 2021, the Centre for Just Places works across people, place and planet to advance social and ecological justice - bringing together research, action and advocacy to understand and respond to the social, environmental and structural factors that shape people’s lives and the places they live.
Jesuit Social Services also convenes the Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific Eco Justice Advocacy and Engagement Project, working with Jesuit ministries and partners across the Asia-Pacific region to advance ecological justice and climate advocacy.
In early 2027, the organisation will release the latest version of its Dropping off the Edge research, mapping socio-economic and environmental disadvantage across every community in Australia.
The most recent iteration of this research clearly showed that communities already experiencing social and economic disadvantage are overwhelming also grappling with environmental challenges such as heat stress and poor air quality.
“Through the Centre for Just Places, Jesuit Social Services will use COP31 to highlight the need for stronger and more equitable climate adaptation and resilience policies in Australia, ensuring that the people and communities most affected by climate change are prioritised in planning, investment and decision-making,” says Ms Lowsby.
Contact details:
Kathryn Kernohan, 0409 901 248 or [email protected].