Lisa Sullivan and Father Patrick Okok at 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference/Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Belém, Brazil (Photo by Lisa Sullivan/MOGC).
Faith Groups Call for U.S. Return to Global Climate Table
In a significant push for continued international cooperation, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and a broad coalition of faith-based organizations are advocating for a reversal of the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
On January 9, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns released a statement expressing its firm opposition to the withdrawal. “Faith requires us to be stewards of God’s creation,” said Lisa Sullivan, Senior Policy Officer for Integral Ecology at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. “Withdrawing from this framework is not just a policy shift; it is a rejection of our duty to protect our common home and the future of all humanity.”
This position was further amplified on February 26, when the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined a diverse group of religious organizations in a joint letter delivered to the U.S. Senate. The letter frames climate change not just as a political issue, but as a profound moral crisis.
“Together, our religious teachings call us to protect the Earth,” the signatories wrote, emphasizing the need to stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities already facing the devastation of intensified floods, droughts, and wildfires.
The coalition warned that isolationism has severe consequences for the nation’s security and prosperity. They argued that withdrawing removes the U.S. voice from the global conversation at a critical juncture, allowing international competitors to seize the lead in clean energy innovation. The letter also noted that the move threatens public health, as increased fossil fuel pollution and heatwaves are projected to drive up healthcare costs and premature deaths.
While acknowledging that honest disagreements exist regarding specific policy approaches, the faith groups urged the Senate to uphold the principle that the United States must remain “at the table” to shape solutions. They characterized U.S. participation in the UNFCCC as a “covenant of global accompaniment”—a pledge to meet one of the most significant challenges of our time with hope and just stewardship.
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