Pope Francis on climate change: Rich nations reliant on fossil fuels contributing to the problem
Speaking to CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell in Vatican City, Pope Francis said, “climate change at this moment is a road to death.” The pontiff is prominent across the globe for being vocal about the brutal climate crisis.
Climate change has been making global headlines lately, luring attention to the still underrated problem. But there is a lot more to be done to tackle the crisis. Climate change has been elevating temperatures and triggering natural disasters of higher intensity.
During the recent conversation, Francis noted that the climate emergency has “gotten to the point of no return” as the planet continues to see the effects of global warming and leaders have an even greater responsibility to take proper action.
Pope Francis has made regular climate statements
Expressing his serious concerns over fluctuations in the environment, Francis noted that, “unfortunately, we have gotten to a point of no return. It’s sad, but that’s what it is. Global warming is a serious problem,” as per the media report.
The pope also stressed that rich countries reliant on polluting fossil fuels are contributing to the crisis. “They are the countries that can make the most difference, given their industry and all, aren’t they? But it is very difficult to create an awareness of this.”
“They hold a conference, everybody is in agreement, they all sign, and then bye-bye. But we have to be very clear, global warming is alarming.” Francis has made regular climate statements, from denouncing climate change sceptics to urging politicians to make “radical decisions”.
In 2015, Pope Francis made history as he became the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress in the US, as he called on decision-makers to take “an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and … protecting nature.”
“Become artisans and caretakers of our common home”
Francis was scheduled to deliver a speech at the largest annual climate conference, the COP28 Summit in Dubai, in November – but had to cancel due to illness. The event convened participants from more than 100 countries to take important decisions on the climate crisis.
COP28 Dubai achieved a success on its first day itself as participants agreed to operationalise the landmark Loss and Damage Fund to compensate vulnerable countries. In addition, the consequential UAE Consensus calls for a just transition away from fossil fuels.
On Earth Day this year, the pope took to social media to note: “Our generation has bequeathed many riches, but we have failed to protect the planet and we are not safeguarding peace. We are called to become artisans and caretakers of our common home, the Earth.”
