(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 combat human-induced climate change, while at the same time eliminating global poverty.
The Workshop, entitled “Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity: The Moral Dimensions of Climate Change and Sustainable Humanity” was organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, SDSN and Religions for Peace.
Below, please find the full text of the Final Declaration from the Workshop:
Declaration of Religious Leaders, Political Leaders, Business Leaders, Scientists and Development Practitioners
28 April 2015
We the undersigned have assembled at the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences to address the challenges of human-induced climate change, extreme poverty, and social marginalization, including human trafficking, in the context of sustainable development. We join together from many faiths and walks of life, reflecting humanity’s shared yearning for peace, happiness, prosperity, justice, and environmental sustainability. We have considered the overwhelming scientific evidence regarding human-induced climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the vulnerabilities of the poor to economic, social, and environmental shocks.
In the face of the emergencies of human-induced climate change, social exclusion, and extreme poverty, we join together to declare that:
Human-induced climate change is a scientific reality, and its decisive mitigation is a moral and religious imperative for humanity;
In this core moral space, the world’s religions play a very vital role. These traditions all affirm the inherent dignity of every individual linked to the common good of all humanity. They affirm the beauty, wonder, and inherent goodness of the natural world, and appreciate that it is a precious gift entrusted to our common care, making it our moral duty to respect rather than ravage the garden that is our home;
The poor and excluded face dire threats from climate disruptions, including the increased frequency of droughts, extreme storms, heat waves, and rising sea levels;
The world has within its technological grasp, financial means, and know-how the means to mitigate climate change while also ending extreme poverty, through the application of sustainable development solutions including the adoption of low-carbon energy systems supported by information and communications technologies;
The financing of sustainable development, including climate mitigation, should be bolstered through new incentives for the transition towards low-carbon energy, and through the relentless pursuit of peace, which also will enable the shift of public financing from military spending to urgent investments for sustainable development;
The world should take note that the climate summit in Paris later this year (COP21) may be the last effective opportunity to negotiate arrangements that keep human- 2 induced warming below 2-degrees C, and aim to stay well below 2-degree C for safety, yet the current trajectory may well reach a devastating 4-degrees C or higher;
Political leaders of all UN member states have a special responsibility to agree at COP21 to a bold climate agreement that confines global warming to a limit safe for humanity, while protecting the poor and the vulnerable from ongoing climate change that gravely endangers their lives. The high-income countries should help to finance the costs of climate-change mitigation in low-income countries as the high-income countries have promised to do;
Climate-change mitigation will require a rapid world transformation to a world powered by renewable and other low-carbon energy and the sustainable management of ecosystems. These transformations should be carried out in the context of globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals, consistent with ending extreme poverty; ensuring universal access for healthcare, quality education, safe water, and sustainable energy; and cooperating to end human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery;
All sectors and stakeholders must do their part, a pledge that we fully commit to in our individual capacities.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(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 more attentive, caring and considerate towards those in need and that Christians could knee before a poor person. The Pope’s words came during a video message which was broadcast at a charity theatre performance organised by Caritas Roma.
“If it were not for you” was the title of the fund-raising performance at Rome’s Brancaccio theatre where the cast were not professional actors but instead the poor and needy who are being sheltered at Caritas hostels in the capital. The performers explored the theme of love that included unhappy love stories, the love they bear for their children and parents, for life and for God.
In his video message Pope Francis told the performers that they will be conveying a precious teaching not just on the theme of love, but also on our need for each other, on solidarity and how amidst all the difficulties we can discover God’s love for us.
Poverty, he said, is the great teaching that Jesus gave us and he assured the performers that they are never a burden for us. Instead they represent a resource without which our attempts to discover the face of Jesus would be in vain.
He concluded his address by saying how much he wished that the city of Rome could shine with the light of its compassion and its welcome for those who are suffering, who are fleeing from war and death, and respond with a smile to all those who have lost hope. Pope Francis said he wished for the same on the part of the Church community in Rome so that it may be more attentive, caring and considerate towards the poor and vulnerable and recognize in them the face of our Lord. How I wish, he said, that Christians could kneel in veneration when a poor person enters the church.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(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)…
(Vatican Radio) In response to the devastating earthquake in Nepal on Saturday 25th April, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, following the Pope’s assurance for assistance on Sunday, has distributed $100,000 as an immediate initial aid contribution to assist the Nepalese people as they face the current crisis.
At present at 4,300 people have died, while an additional 7 million people have been affected by the earthquake. At present the government estimates that around 400,000 buildings have also been destroyed by the earthquake. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in Asia with an estimated population of 27 to 28 million.
Cor Unum is a Pontifical Council, tasked by the Holy See to coordinate and organise humanitarian aid in the face of natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
Below is a translation of the communiqué issued by Cor Unum:
Aid to the people of Nepal affected by the Earthquake. Communiqué from Cor Unum in the name of the Pope (28 April 2015)
Following the earthquake that at the end of last week, which affected with extraordinary vehemence the area of Nepal, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, has decided to send an initial contribution of $100,000 to assist the local population.
This sum, which was assured by Pope Francis during his Regina Coeli address on Sunday April 26th, will be sent to the local Church and will be used to support the works carried out to assist displaced persons and earthquake victims, and is to be a first and immediate concrete expression of spiritual closeness and paternal encouragement for the people and the affected areas. Episcopal conferences and Catholic charitable organisations are already extensively involved in the assistance effort.
According to available information at the moment, but not yet definitive, the deceased victims, some of whom are registered in neighbouring countries, would be over 4,300, with an additional 7 million people affected in 34 districts in the country of Nepal, 1 million are homeless, 2 million would be children who are in need of aid. Various areas have been isolated and relief has not yet been able to reach them. In addition to this, the government has estimated that around 400,000 buildings have been destroyed.
(from Vatican Radio)…