As world leaders gear up for COP27, a new study suggests Catholics want the government to do more to tackle climate change.
The YouGov poll suggests six in ten Catholics feel the government is not doing enough to fight climate change, and just 20 per cent believe it is committed to its net target.
There was also very little faith in promises to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.
A third said that the UK’s leaders are not doing enough to support poorer countries on the frontline of climate change.
The COP27 conference, held in Egypt, begins on Sunday.
The meeting has attracted headlines in recent weeks after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was not planning to attend due to domestic matters.
He has since made a U-turn on the decision.
Catholic aid organisation CAFOD suggests the countries contributing ‘very little’ to global greenhouse gas emissions are the ones paying the price, as the changing climate creates deadly floods, droughts and starvation amongst the world’s poorest.
Bishop John Arnold, from the Diocese of Salford and Chair of CAFOD’s trustees, said: “The environment cannot be isolated from our relationship with God. We are blessed with stewardship over the earth, but with this comes the responsibility to protect our planet and preserve it for future generations.
“For too long, we have been reliant on fossil fuels which are causing devastation to communities around the world. As the world’s eyes descend on COP27, I pray the government and world leaders will seize this opportunity and invest in renewable energy so we can protect our planet for future generations.