MEP Othmar Karas (EPP/Austria) hosted an ecumenical conference on climate change at the European Parliament. The event was organised by CEC, COMECE, Caritas Europe, ACT Alliance EU, and CIDSE. Presentations were made by Msgr. Luc Van Looy, Bishop of Gand, and H.E. Metropolitan Athanasios of Achaia. Both speakers and respondents stressed the need to look beyond short-term actions and the importance of overcoming political divisions. They also expressed solidarity with the poor, and called on the EU to respond robustly to the scientific, ethical, political, and educational issues associated with climate change.