WelCom February/March 2025
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is taking part in the global Together We campaign, launched in January as part of the Vatican’s Turn Debt into Hope initiative for this Jubilee Year.
Caritas aims to use the campaign to highlight the urgent need for debt justice, especially for Pacific nations, many of which are forced to borrow money to recover from climate disasters caused by the emissions of wealthier nations.
‘This debt crisis highlights a global injustice,’ said Mena Antonio, CEO of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. ‘Wealthier nations, whose pollution has driven climate change, are responsible for most of the problem. Yet it’s poorer nations paying the highest price, both environmentally and financially. This is especially true in the Pacific, where nations are facing the worst impacts of climate change, yet they are being forced into unsustainable debt to rebuild. We need a new approach, which ensures they have the resources to adapt and thrive.’
Pope calls for action against debt
Pope Francis made a call at the launch of the Together We campaign on World Day of Peace, 1 January. He said: ‘Foreign debt and ecological debt are two sides of the same coin, namely the mindset of exploitation that has culminated in the debt crisis. In the spirit of this Jubilee Year, I urge the international community to work towards forgiving foreign debt in recognition of the ecological debt existing between the North and the South of this world. This is an appeal for solidarity, but above all for justice.
The Together We campaign is calling on governments, financial institutions, and individuals to stand in solidarity with vulnerable nations and demand a fairer system. It encourages New Zealanders to join the movement by signing a global petition, urging governments to relieve the debt burden for developing nations; raising awareness; engaging in advocacy; and supporting policy changes that promote climate justice.
Part of the campaign is advocating for the international community to rethink how climate finance is delivered – through grants rather than loans. Caritas says New Zealand is already demonstrating leadership in this area.
‘New Zealand’s government has for many years shown leadership by providing climate finance as grants rather than loans,’ says Mena Antonio. ‘Grants don’t have to be repaid, allowing nations to recover and adapt without the burden of debt. If more countries followed this approach, it could break the cycle of debt and offer real hope to those most affected by climate change. We think this should be celebrated. New Zealand’s innovation shows we understand our moral responsibility to care for our neighbours, and this should be a model for other developed nations to follow.’
The campaign echoes past successes, such as the Jubilee 2000 movement, which led to the cancellation of over $100 billion in unjust debt.
Visit www.caritas.org.nz/turndebtintohope for more information, sign the petition or to get involved.
Source: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
See Testing times ahead for our world, Caritas CEO
