Pope Francis, in his recent encyclical "Laudato Si," aligned himself with the overwhelming scientific consensus on man-made climate change, affirming its reality and calling for immediate action to ease its effects. His remarks underscore the need for world leaders to face up to this grave challenge and for all humans to be more responsible stewards of Earth.
In his strongly worded document, Pope Francis said the rich have polluted their way to prosperity at the expense of the poor. Global warming, he noted, has been primarily driven by carbon emissions in high-income countries, while its consequences--extreme weather events, diminished food supplies and political instability--will be felt most in poor countries. Nations must develop a plan of action to address the problem, he said, and advance a "bold cultural revolution" to change how people interact with nature.
To Pope Francis, these ills are part of a "throwaway culture" that leaves people and the environment behind in the name of technological progress, unbridled consumerism and personal desires.
The pope's stand won him no friends on the right. Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Rick Santorum, among others, urged him to focus on individual moral guidance and leave the political matters to--well, people like them.
Even to the pope's supporters, his attacks on capitalism may seem excessive. His observations on technology and social organization sometimes are reminiscent of Cold War-era doomsday prophecy. But no one should expect Pope Francis, or any other individual, to have all the answers. With this encyclical, he has brought greater attention to the danger that global warming poses to humanity and called on people to respect and sustain the planet they share.
Editorial on 07/03/2015