In a strongly-worded update to his landmark 2015 paper on the environment, Pope Francis has issued a dire warning that the world is on the verge of collapsing due to climate change and may be nearing a breaking point. The pope criticized global decision-making bodies for their inefficiency and called out climate deniers for denying, concealing, glossing over, or relativizing the issue. He emphasized that the damage caused by climate change is already irreversible and that it is no longer possible to deny its human origins.
Pope Francis has long made climate change a central focus of his papacy, and with this latest update, he is renewing his calls for concrete action from politicians and world leaders. In his 2015 encyclical, the highest level teaching document a pope can issue, he signaled a significant shift for the Catholic Church and underscored the moral imperative of taking immediate and decisive action to address climate change.
The pope also called attention to the discrepancies in emissions between the Western world and poorer nations. He highlighted that, on average, emissions per person in the United States are approximately twice as high as those in China and approximately seven times higher than those in the poorest countries. He emphasized the need for a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyles associated with the Western model, stating that it would have a significant long-term impact.
While acknowledging some progress made through COP summits, Pope Francis criticized the lack of consequences for nations that fail to fulfill their commitments under international agreements. He called for the establishment of a new global procedure for decision-making, as he believes the current process is insufficient and ineffective. The pope expressed concern over the slow pace of the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources, warning that society cannot wait any longer for this transition to happen.
In his message, Pope Francis cautioned against placing excessive hope in carbon capture technologies, describing it as “papering over the cracks.” He stressed that relying solely on technical interventions would be a form of homicidal pragmatism and likened it to pushing a snowball down a hill. The pope believes that a fundamental shift in behavior and values is necessary to address the imminent crisis.
As the world approaches a breaking point, Pope Francis issued a direct plea to world leaders, questioning their motivations for holding onto power while failing to take urgent and necessary action. He implored them to consider the severe consequences of their inaction and emphasized that history will remember them for their inability to act when action was crucial.
The pope’s exhortation combines a scientific argument with moral urgency, appealing to the powerful to prioritize the wellbeing of humanity and the planet over personal interests. His message serves as a call to arms to address climate change and pursue radical action to safeguard the future of our planet.
While the pope’s intervention may not bring immediate change, it serves to mobilize public opinion and create awareness about the pressing need for climate action. It underscores the responsibility of both individuals and governments to make meaningful changes to their behaviors and policies to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. It is a reminder that the time to act is now, and the consequences of inaction will be severe for all of humanity.