(Vatican Radio) World leaders meeting at the Vatican for a conference on climate change have issued a final statement, declaring that “human-induced climate change is a scientific reality” and “its decisive mitigation is a moral and religious imperative for humanity.” The statement says that humans have the technological and financial means, and the know-how, to…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Tuesday that poverty is the great teaching Jesus gave us and we can find his face among the poor and needy. Stressing that the poor are not a burden but a resource, he said he wished that both the city of Rome and the local Church community could be…
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(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis said on Tuesday that poverty is the great teaching Jesus gave us and we can find his face among the poor and needy. Stressing that the poor are not a burden but a resource, he said he wished that both the city of Rome and the local Church community could be…
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(Vatican Radio) The Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, said the industrialized world needs to take the lead in tackling carbon emissions, and not try to force poorer countries to “stay where they are.”
The Cardinal was speaking on Tuesday on the sidelines of a workshop on climate change being held at the Vatican.
Listen to the Vatican Viewpoint featuring the full interview with Cardinal John Onaiyekan:
“The rich countries who have already gone very far ahead of the poor countries ought not to be demanding of that the poor countries must still stay where they are for fear of damaging the environment, when it is they who are damaging the environment in more than 80% of the situation,” Cardinal Onaiyekan told Vatican Radio.
“The rest of the world will have to recognize and acknowledge the needs of the poor countries in this whole discussion, because despite all that we are saying about reducing carbon emission, we are only talking about reducing, not eliminating – which means even America, China, Russia, Europe, they are all still throwing carbon emissions into the air – so they should allow a small country like Nigeria to start its own factories,” he said.
The meeting, sponsored by the Pontifical Academies of Science and Social Sciences, brought together scientists, political leaders, and religious figures to talk about climate change, and the Sustainable Development Goals being proposed by the United Nations.
Cardinal Onaiyekan told Vatican Radio the “first duty” of religious leaders is to be “properly informed,” and praised the presentations.
“We begin to realize that since this affects every living people on the earth, the religious people have their own role to play,” he said.
He said it was their duty to speak about “the danger that is hanging over everybody”, not only to their own congregations, but also to those who make policy decisions.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences on Tuesday hosted a workshop at the Vatican called Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity.
The meeting included the participation of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
One of the organizers of the event was Member of the Pontifical Academy of Science and climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan of the University of California at San Diego.
Listen to the full interview with Dr. Veerabhadran Ramanathan:
“We have not taken any action on climate change in spite of overwhelming science,” he told Vatican Radio.
“The issue has become…a huge moral and ethical issue,” Dr. Ramanathan continued. “This involves the type of planet we are leaving behind for future generations.
“The other important moral dimension is that most of the emission of this global-warming pollutants is coming from the wealthy one billion, but the worst consequences of that will be experienced by the poorest three billion,” he added.
Dr. Ramanathan said religious leaders have to become part of the debate, because they represent the voice of morality.
“Once it has become a moral issue, scientists like me have no authority to speak about it, then I think of this whole climate change problem has gone into the domains of religion, and the Catholic Church, I feel, is one of the most powerful supporters of protecting the earth and being good stewards of the planet,” he said.
The scientist said he was also pleased with the involvement of both Pontifical Academies, because it brought together natural scientists with social scientists to tackle all sides of the issue.
“To my mind, it is the first time there is a meeting being held between science, policy, and religion, so it is a historic meeting,” he said.
(from Vatican Radio)…