
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is a faith-based initiative that mobilizes Catholics worldwide to address the climate crisis. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' and his teachings on the relationship between humanity, creation, and the Creator, the movement aims to turn the Church's environmental teachings into concrete actions. With one in seven people on Earth identifying as Catholic, the GCCM leverages this vast network to drive change in three key areas: fostering eco-spirituality, enhancing sustainability, and advocating for a swift transition to clean energy. The movement has launched initiatives such as the Laudato Si' Generation, targeting youth to demand action from older generations and Church leaders, and the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program, empowering Catholic institutions to reduce their carbon footprint and commit to carbon neutrality. The GCCM also facilitated a meeting between Pope Francis and climate activist Greta Thunberg, demonstrating its influence and commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) |
| Other Names | Laudato Si' Movement (LSM), Catholic Climate Covenant |
| Inspiration | Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si' |
| Mission | To inspire and mobilise the Catholic community to care for the planet and achieve climate and ecological justice |
| Members | 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide |
| Member Organisations | 900+ in 90 countries, 70+ chapters |
| Leaders | 10,000+ trained grassroots leaders (Laudato Si' Animators) |
| Youth Movement | Laudato Si' Generation (ages 15-30) |
| Carbon Neutrality Commitment | By 2030 with full implementation by 2040 |
| Key Partners | World Resources Institute (WRI), Dicastery for Integral Human Development, University of Dayton |
| Key Initiatives | Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign, Climate Strikes, Catholic Carbon Footprint Program |
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What You'll Learn
- The movement aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis
- It was inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si'
- The Laudato Si' Generation initiative targets youth aged 15-30 to demand action from older generations
- The Catholic Carbon Footprint Program aims to empower Catholic institutions to 'green' their assets and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
- The movement facilitates dialogue between faith leaders and climate activists, such as Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg

The movement aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to address the climate crisis. With one in seven people on Earth identifying as Catholic, the Church has a substantial foundation of teachings on environmental protection. The GCCM draws inspiration from Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si', and seeks to translate the Church's teachings into tangible actions.
The movement focuses on three key strategic areas to drive change. Firstly, it emphasizes the development of eco-spirituality, encouraging Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and creation through prayer, meditation, and reflection. This spiritual foundation guides their commitment to caring for the planet. Secondly, the GCCM promotes sustainability within Catholic institutions. Through initiatives like the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program, the movement empowers these institutions to reduce their carbon footprint and transition to carbon neutrality by 2030. This involves greening their physical and financial assets and identifying opportunities to remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Moreover, the GCCM mobilizes Catholics worldwide to take action. This includes advocating for a rapid transition to a clean energy economy and demanding action from older generations, Church leaders, and political authorities. The movement's youth wing, the Laudato Si' Generation, plays a pivotal role in this regard, urging accelerated implementation of Laudato Si'. The GCCM also facilitates global strikes, as seen through its collaboration with Greta Thunberg, to raise awareness and amplify the call for climate justice.
The GCCM's efforts extend to grassroots engagement through its network of Laudato Si' Animators, who are trained leaders within the Catholic community. These animators play a crucial role in raising awareness, educating their communities, and spearheading local initiatives. The movement's impact is significant, with a presence in 90 countries and a membership of over 900 Catholic organizations. This global network fosters a sense of community and shared purpose, uniting Catholics worldwide in their efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
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It was inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si'
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is a movement that aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis. It was inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si', and it turns the Church's teachings into action. The encyclical, or papal letter, Laudato Si', draws its name from St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun. The encyclical was issued in 2015, and the Laudato Si' Movement (LSM)—formerly known as the Global Catholic Climate Movement—was founded the same year in the Philippines during Pope Francis' visit to Manila.
Laudato Si' and the Global Catholic Climate Movement are underpinned by the Catholic Church's long history of teachings on creation, ecology, and care for the vulnerable. The encyclical and the movement it inspired have profoundly transformed Catholics' understanding of the relationship between humanity, creation, and the Creator.
The Global Catholic Climate Movement focuses on three strategic areas: developing eco-spirituality, improving sustainability, and mobilizing Catholics worldwide to take action. The movement has launched initiatives such as the Laudato Si' Generation, targeting youth aged 15 to 30 to demand action from older generations and Church leaders to accelerate the implementation of Laudato Si'. The Catholic Carbon Footprint Program, a partnership between GCCM, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, aims to empower Catholic institutions to 'green' their assets and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
The Global Catholic Climate Movement has a global reach, with over 900 member organizations in 90 to 192 countries and a network of 1,300+ Laudato Si' Animators (community leaders). The movement has played a key role in facilitating meetings, such as between Pope Francis and climate activist Greta Thunberg, and organizing worldwide strikes.
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The Laudato Si' Generation initiative targets youth aged 15-30 to demand action from older generations
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is a movement that activates the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si', the GCCM turns the Church's teachings on environmental protection into action. The GCCM drives action in three strategic areas: developing eco-spirituality, improving sustainability, mobilizing Catholics worldwide to take action, and advocating for a rapid transition to a clean energy economy.
One of the initiatives of the GCCM is the Laudato Si' Generation, which targets youth aged 15-30 to take action and demand action from older generations, including bishops and Church leaders. The initiative calls on political leaders and Church institutions to take seriously and urgently the warnings of the scientific community regarding the climate crisis. The Laudato Si' Generation has drafted a manifesto, in partnership with the Dicastery for Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Laity, which was presented in a joint press conference.
The GCCM's Laudato Si' Program, in partnership with One Earth, has enabled the organization to launch its youth movement and its Catholic Carbon Footprint Program. The Catholic Carbon Footprint Program is a partnership between the GCCM, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, with technical support from the University of Dayton and other leading universities. The program aims to empower Catholic institutions to 'green' their physical and financial assets and commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, with full implementation by 2040.
The GCCM has also played a role in facilitating meetings between prominent figures such as Pope Francis and climate activist Greta Thunberg. During her visit to Rome, Greta filmed a short video encouraging viewers, especially GCCM’s network, to participate in the Climate Strikes. The GCCM used this momentum to organize strikes worldwide and continues to prepare for upcoming strikes.
The Laudato Si' Movement (LSM), formerly known as the Global Catholic Climate Movement, is a global network of over 900 Catholic organizations and 10,000 trained grassroots leaders known as Laudato Si' Animators. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical, the LSM's mission is to "inspire and mobilize the Catholic community to care for our common home and achieve climate and ecological justice". The LSM has spearheaded various initiatives, including the Laudato Si' Animators training and the Fossil Fuel Divestment campaign, and has played a key role in supporting the Church in receiving and implementing the Laudato Si' encyclical.
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The Catholic Carbon Footprint Program aims to empower Catholic institutions to 'green' their assets and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is a movement that aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si, the GCCM turns the Church's teachings on environmental protection into action. The GCCM drives action in three strategic areas: developing eco-spirituality, improving sustainability, and mobilizing Catholics worldwide to take action and advocate for a rapid transition to a clean energy economy.
One of the key initiatives of the GCCM is the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program (formerly known as the Laudato Si' Tracker), which aims to empower Catholic institutions to green their assets and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. This program is a partnership between the GCCM, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, with technical support from the University of Dayton and other leading universities. By collaborating with these organizations, the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program will allow the GCCM to identify the Church's current greenhouse gas contributions and explore possibilities for removing carbon from the atmosphere. This will enable the Church to make the most impactful contributions to combating climate change.
The Catholic Carbon Footprint Program offers Catholic institutions a comprehensive framework to support the program's implementation. This includes helping Catholic organizations work on solar, storage, and energy efficiency, often reducing energy costs. The program also provides concrete tools, techniques, and technical assistance to help Catholic peoples and institutions reduce their carbon footprint and work for climate justice. This is in line with the Church's deep history of teaching on creation, ecology, and caring for the most vulnerable.
Through initiatives like the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program, the GCCM is empowering Catholic institutions to take concrete action on climate change and live out their teachings on environmental protection. By greening their assets and achieving carbon neutrality, Catholic institutions can set an example for the global Catholic community and contribute to a more sustainable future for all. This program is a testament to the GCCM's commitment to turn the Church's teachings into meaningful action to tackle the climate crisis.
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The movement facilitates dialogue between faith leaders and climate activists, such as Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is a faith-based initiative that aims to address the climate crisis by activating the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si'", the movement focuses on turning the Church's teachings on environmental protection into concrete actions.
The GCCM drives action in three key areas: developing eco-spirituality, improving sustainability, and mobilizing Catholics worldwide to advocate for a rapid transition to a clean energy economy. By facilitating dialogue between faith leaders and climate activists, such as Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg, the movement gains momentum and impact.
The meeting between Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg, facilitated by the GCCM, is a testament to its ability to bring together influential figures. During her visit to Rome, Greta filmed a video encouraging viewers, especially those within the GCCM network, to participate in the Climate Strikes. The GCCM effectively utilized this video to organize strikes worldwide, demonstrating the power of intergenerational collaboration between faith leaders and climate activists.
The GCCM has a global reach, with over 900 member organizations across 90 countries. It also has a dedicated youth movement, the Laudato Si' Generation, targeting individuals aged 15 to 30. This initiative demands action from older generations, bishops, and Church leaders, urging them to accelerate the implementation of "Laudato Si"'. The Laudato Si' Generation Manifesto, drafted in partnership with relevant Church dicasteries, underscores the urgency of heeding the scientific community's warnings.
Furthermore, the GCCM has launched the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. This program aims to empower Catholic institutions to 'green' their assets and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. By identifying the Church's greenhouse gas contributions and exploring carbon removal possibilities, the GCCM is committed to making impactful changes within the Church's global infrastructure.
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Frequently asked questions
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) is an initiative that aims to activate the world's 1.2 billion Catholics to tackle the climate crisis.
Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical on creation care, Laudato Si’, the GCCM aims to turn the Church’s teachings on environmental protection into action. The GCCM focuses on three strategic areas: developing eco-spirituality, improving sustainability, and mobilizing Catholics worldwide to advocate for a rapid transition to a clean energy economy.
The GCCM has launched the Laudato Si' Generation initiative, targeting youth aged 15 to 30 to demand action from older generations and Church leaders. They also facilitated a meeting between Pope Francis and Greta Thunberg, which led to the organization of global climate strikes. Additionally, the GCCM has partnered with the World Resources Institute (WRI) and other organizations to launch the Catholic Carbon Footprint Program, empowering Catholic institutions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
The GCCM has a global network of over 900 Catholic organizations and more than 10,000 trained grassroots leaders called Laudato Si' Animators across 90 countries.









































