The Federation of Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Oceania has called for a political sea change to avoid destructive climate change around the world.
Photo: AFP
Bishops from around the Pacific met last month in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
They said they were disturbed to learn that since the 2015 Paris agreement, many nations had reneged on their promises to limit temperature increase.
In a statement the bishops said "Conversion of attitude is the catalyst to convince political parties and governments to address climate change".
They said: "for far too long we have been subject to the shallow defence that legislating for effective industrial change would be 'political suicide'".
The bishops said they were appealing to all people, particularly those in the industrial states, to hear the voice from the south.
The bishops pledged their support to all businesses with a strong ethic of care for workers and the environment, and implored governments to exercise responsible leadership "in favour of the common good, future generations and mother earth.
