Brian Roewe

The U.N. climate summit COP26 took some steps forward in the global effort to rapidly limit dangerous levels of warming, but not nearly enough or fast enough, say Catholic groups who were present in Glasgow throughout the two-week conference.

All sectors of the church are invited to participate in the Laudato Si' Action Platform, the Vatican-backed initiative to encourage concrete action on sustainability and climate change. Based on Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on care for creation, it aims to spark a cultural shift away from exploitation of the planet and its resources.

While COP26 is coming to a close, the work does not end, especially for faith communities involved in the fight against climate change, said Iyad Abumoghli, director of the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Among the voices at COP26 who are most impacted by climate change, Indigenous leaders are speaking out about solutions they have proposed to stem global warming in ways that won't destroy their lands and livelihoods.

See the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice through the eyes of Catholics who marched in Glasgow at the midpoint of the United Nations climate summit.

Billions of dollars and a bevy of new commitments from countries to move away from fossil fuels are promising developments that will depend on the details, say Catholics at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow.

In a written message, Pope Francis called on world leaders assembled at COP26 to demonstrate "political will" and stop deferring the action required to avert the worst catastrophes of climate change.

As the climate conference begins, pilgrims and representatives of many world religions call for climate justice and for countries to sharply cut greenhouse gas emissions.

On British airwaves Friday morning, Pope Francis said that leaders and diplomats coming to the U.K. for the COP26 climate summit are "urgently summoned to provide effective responses to the present ecological crisis."

Scotland's Catholic bishops' conference and dioceses are among 72 faith institutions on six continents that announced their fossil-free commitments Oct. 26, days before the U.N. climate conference begins in Glasgow.

EarthBeat Weekly: Global public opinion is skeptical that when leaders gather in Glasgow they'll do anything to seriously address the major challenge of climate change.

Catholic development agencies, religious congregations and the Vatican say the climate change summit known as COP26 is crucial to the international effort to limit the planet's rising temperatures. The conference in Glasgow, Scotland will urge nearly 200 countries to commit to substantial, short-term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

COP26, the U.N. climate change summit, is set to begin in 17 days. According to Catholics who will be at the conference, there are many reasons why people of faith should pay attention to the proceedings.

The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of Greenfield, Wisconsin, are turning their estimated 200 acres near the Mississippi River into a living classroom for the local community. They have permanently committed the land to educational and collaborative sustainability projects.

Two congregations of Franciscan sisters — one in Iowa, the other in Minnesota — both preserved acres of their respective lands by establishing conservation easements. While motivations and the end result were the same, the congregations chose different paths.

Nearly 40 religious leaders call for governments to cut emissions and aid poorer countries, while pledging that their congregations will take action, too.

Originally set for Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Laudato Si' Action Platform is now scheduled to begin its enrollment period on Nov. 14, with materials for the program available on its website.

With the largest-ever federal climate initiatives on the line in two multitrillion-dollar legislative packages, Rep. Deborah Ross said faith groups could play a key role in pushing both bills across the finish line.

"Tree-hugging Republican" Bob Rafferty of Iowa Business for Clean Energy believes faith can inspire business owners to make their operations greener, even if they don't completely buy into a national climate agenda.

The bills represent a "Kairos moment" that could set up the country's response to climate change for decades, said Avery Davis Lamb of Creation Justice Ministries. "And let me be clear it's not just a political window of opportunity — it's a moral window of opportunity," he said.