Pope calls for ‘really significant global environmental agreements’

Wednesday, 16 September 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pope Francis demanded swift action on Friday (11) to save the planet from environmental ruin, urging everyone to make an effort ahead of upcoming international meetings on the issue.

His encyclical “Laudato Si” (Praise Be), published in June, was the first papal document dedicated to the environment. ‘On the Care of Our Common Home’, Francis advocated a change of lifestyle in rich countries, which he said were steeped in a “throwaway” consumer culture and an end to “obstructionist attitudes” that sometimes put profit before the common good.

Speaking at the Vatican on Friday, the pope asked that this generation be remembered for its action and responsibility towards the environment.

“The climate is a common good, now seriously threatened, as illustrated by phenomena such as climate change, global warming and the increase in extreme weather events,” said the pontiff, squarely backing scientists, who say climate change is mostly man-made.

“Science and technology put unprecedented power into our hands. It is our duty towards humanity and in particular for the poorest and future generations to use it for the common good. Will our generation be remembered for having assumed with generosity our true responsibility?” the pope said.

Francis has previously said he wants to influence this year’s key U.N. climate summit in Paris, and he returned to this theme on Friday.

“Faced with the urgency of climate change and with an eye to the crucial events to be faced in the coming months - the approval of the objectives of sustainable development by the United Nations at the end of this month and especially the COP 21 in Paris at the beginning December - I would like to propose that this dialogue becomes a true alliance to reach really significant global environmental agreements,” he said.

Pope Francis will become the first pontiff to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress during his much anticipated 19-27 September trip to the United States.

He is expected to raise environmental issues there as well as in an address to the United Nations General Assembly.