The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Alliance of Catholic Development Organisations (CIDSE) will organise a press conference the day before the opening of their high level conference: ‘People and Planet First: the Imperative to Change Course’ that will bring together Church leaders, Decision Makers, Scientists as well as a wide range of representatives of Catholic and civil society organisations from different regions of the world.

The press conference as well as the high level conference will focus also on the publication of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato si’ and its guidance for the struggle against environmental degradation and towards lifestyles working for people and planet to ensure the responsible use of the Earth, so that it may provide for the dignified existence of each human person.

The speakers will also address upcoming key political moments in 2015 such as the Third international conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa in July, the United Nations summit for the adoption of the Post-2015 sustainable development framework taking place in New York in September, and the climate negotiations towards COP 21 in Paris.

Speakers at the press conference:
• H.E. Cardinal Peter Turkson: President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace;
• Ms. Naomi Klein: Author. Latest publication: “This Changes Everything” (Una rivoluzione ci salverà);
• Prof. Ottmar Edenhofer: Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
• Mr. Bernd Nilles: CIDSE Secretary General.

Web streaming available at: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/television/index_it.htm

If you want to assist to this press conference, please send a confirmation email to Ms. Valentina Pavarotti (CIDSE Media & Communication Officer, Pavarotti@cidse.org ). For any questions about the meeting or to pre-book an interview please also contact Valentina Pavarotti.

Interested journalists, cameramen and photographers must request accreditation by email at accreditamenti@pressva.va.