It may surprise some people that a major concern of Pope Francis’ is climate change. On the day he became Pontiff, Francis promised to make the environment a priority. En route to a recent trip to the Philippines, he stated, “I don’t know if human activity is the only cause, but mostly, in great part, it is man who has slapped nature in the face and we have in a sense taken over nature.” Francis’ itinerary in the Philippines included visiting survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which occurred in 2013. The Philippine government has stated global warming was the cause of this deadly event.
Encyclical on Ecology
In June or July, the Vatican is expected to release the pope’s encyclical on ecology and climate change. An encyclical, also called a circular, is a letter with instructions written by the pope and circulated among bishops, clergy, Catholics and “men of good will” who are not members of the Catholic Church. It is unclear exactly what the document will contain, but Francis is not a scientist so the belief is it will not be a thorough scientific analysis of the situation.
November United Nations Climate Negotiations
The pope has stated he wants his encyclical out well before the next round of United Nations negotiations on climate change, which will be held in Paris from Nov. 30–Dec. 11. Francis expressed disappointment in the last talks in Lima Peru because no consensus was reached.
The Paris negotiations are expected to focus on several key issues:
- Achieve agreement among parties to stabilize greenhouse gases so global warming stays under 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Celsius. This level is comparable with the pre-industrial period.
- Division of responsibility for combating global warming.
- Determine the countries that will foot the bill for dealing with the problems.
In addition to trying to get everyone to concur on a specific temperature that will help keep the problem in check, developed and developing nations have different viewpoints on the issues at stake. The fear of some emerging economies is that a temperature restriction may curb their opportunities for growth. Fossils fuels made the construction of cities, housing and infrastructure possible for countries with advanced economies. Another issue that will factor into the dialogue is the agenda of low-lying countries and island nations. Their chief worry is that rising seas will inundate them and they need money to prepare.
What the Critics Say
While environmentalists hope Francis’ encyclical and support will breathe some life into the discussions, the pope has critics on the left and right of his environmental policy. Some liberals have criticized him for not going far enough and saying global warming is “mostly” man-made. Conservatives claim his stance on climate change will actually hurt the poor, for whom he is well-known to champion, because it puts them at a greater economic disadvantage. They also claim global warming claims are not rooted in science and denounce Francis for using religious propaganda to support his “climate change theory.”
Environmental Views of Other Religious Leaders
Francis is not the only religious leader to advocate for nature. There are a number of prominent theological leaders who have done so as well.
- Pope John Paul II
In 1990, John Paul II said Catholics were religiously obligated to protect the planet, which is God’s creation.
- Pope Benedict XVI
Known as the “Green Pope,” he repeatedly spoke out on the perils of deforestation and other issues. He was also responsible for the installation of solar panels at the Vatican.
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians)
He has expressed concern about a variety of environmental issues
Pope Francis continues to surprise the public and please many of his supporters with his enthusiasm in supporting issues important to him, including climate change. It remains to be seen what impact his voice will have in the long term debate on climate change.