Sign the petition & end unjust climate debt  

By signing this petition, you stand with millions of families around the world in their fight for dignity, opportunity and hope.

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.   

We hope to use the campaign to highlight the urgent need for debt justice, especially for Pacific nations, many of which are now forced to borrow money to recover from climate disasters.  This is stripping already vulnerable nations of the resources they need for health, education, and the futures of young people. 

Currently, countries such as Fiji and Samoa allocate around 15 per cent of government revenue to debt servicing, which is more than they spend on health or education. This financial burden leaves little room for investment in climate resilience or long-term development. 

A global injustice  

This debt crisis highlights a global injustice. Wealthier nations, whose pollution has driven climate change and the harm that it causes, are responsible for most of the problem. Yet it is poorer nations that are paying the highest price, both environmentally and financially. This is especially true in the Pacific, where nations face the worst impacts of climate change, yet they are being forced into unsustainable debt to rebuild and make adaptations.   

We need a new and more just approach.  

New Zealand leadership 

Part of the campaign is advocating for the international community to rethink how climate finance is delivered.  

New Zealand is already demonstrating leadership in this area by providing climate finance as grants rather than loans.  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 they understand their moral responsibility to care for their neighbours, and this should be a model for other developed nations to follow.  

Sign the petition now by filling out the form.