I have to admit that having been brought up in this Christian religion, and confess to be an abstainer from regular practise, I was intrigued by the content of the Pope’s message on Climate change. The Pope being the spiritual leader of 1.2bn people worldwide but who also is a scientist with a degree in chemistry. For those that are interested the whole script in English can be found at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/269022055/Laudato-Si-the-Pope-s-encyclical-on-the-environment-and-climate-change.
The Encyclical, as it is called, is a 180 page document, whilst a bit heavy in places flowery theological language for my personal taste but, it does have some strong messages.
- He states that pollution is a major issue that impacts heavily on the poor. But is quite critical that technology developments can solve this issue as he links technology to” business interests” which solve one problem and create another.
- On the issue of waste he blames our throwaway culture for the problem – a fair point
- He recognises that there is very solid scientific consensus which shows that we are presently witnessing a disturbing warming of the climatic system. With rises in sea levels and more extreme weather events.
- He calls on Humanity to recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming or at least the human causes which produce or aggravate it.
- He emphasises that it is problem that will be mostly acutely felt in developing countries.
So having set his stall I was keen to see what he was offering as a solution, apart from the obvious.
Well he dosen’t see our global leadership as a solution. With such comments as:
“We lack leadership capable of striking out on new paths and meeting the needs of the present with concern for all and without prejudice towards coming generations.”
But he does want to see the establishment of a legal framework which can set clear boundaries and ensure the protection of ecosystems. But equally he is damning of the process to date he says:
“ It is remarkable how weak international political responses have been. The failure of global summits on the environment make it plain that our politics are subject to technology and finance. There are too many special interests, and economic interests easily end up trumping the common good and manipulating information so that their own plans will not be affected.”
I was further interested to see the comments by Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Climate Change Chief on ABC news (http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4257905.htm). Where she says that the Popes message is
“a clear clarion call to remember and act upon the moral imperative to address climate change. It is a message for every single leader. It is a message for political leaders, corporate leaders, civil society leaders, for everyone. It's a message for every individual to actually act upon our own responsibility”.
Let’s hope everyone is listening and talk is turned into an agreement in Paris at COP21.