This Wednesday (4) Pope Francis published the encyclical Laudate Deum (Glory to God), a document in which he warns that “the world is collapsing due to climate change and may be approaching a breaking point”. The publication comes eight years after the publication of Laudato Si (Praised Sejas), a letter in which he already criticized the society’s course to curb the climate crisis. The update once again defends the avoidance of the use of fossil fuels and behavior in harmony with nature.
For Tzeporah Berman, president of the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Fossil Fuels, it is encouraging to see a discussion about fossil fuels in the statement by the head of the Catholic Church. “Our governments are renegotiating emissions targets, but fossil projects continue to increase. And oil, gas and coal are the main causes of the climate crisis,” he said during an online event of the Laudato Si movement this Wednesday to discuss the content of the encyclical.
According to Berman, society must recognize and address the climate crisis. “We need to knock on other people’s doors, send petitions and call on governments to take action to stop these approvals from happening, so that political, economic and social capital flows into clean energy,” she said, after emphasizing that her Country, Canada, does not stop burning in flames due to the influence of the climate. In Canada, the world’s fourthlargest oil producer, 18.6 million hectares of forest have been destroyed by fires this year alone. Nearly 800 fires are active, most of which are out of control.
Laudate Deum is seen as an inspiration by activist Ridhima Pandey to continue the fight for the climate. “This is a crisis that affects the whole world, it is not something the Pope invented. It tells us we have to act,” said the 18yearold Indian, who started climate activism at the age of nine.
According to the Pope, the climate situation has become increasingly urgent, which has led the Catholic Church to reiterate and complete its statements expressed in 2015. The encyclical is divided into six chapters and 73 points. The document was prepared based on scientific information, including the IPCC (United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) synthesis report.
The first chapter is titled “The Global Climate Crisis.” In it, Francisco says that no matter how hard someone tries to deny, hide or relativize the signs of climate change, they always come out on top. “No one can ignore that in recent years we have experienced extreme phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other signs of the earth, which are just some tangible expressions of a silent disease that afflicts us,” he says. The Pope also emphasizes that it is a fact that human activity increases the likelihood that these extreme phenomena will occur more frequently and with greater intensity.
The Pope also highlights the role of climate deniers who downplay the problem and try to cause confusion. According to Francisco, it was precisely because of the “ridiculous and unreasonable” opinions that he found even within the Church that he felt obliged to make statements that may seem selfevident.
Johan Rockström, Swedish scientist and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, noted at the Laudato Si movement event that there is no time to discuss these denying fringe voices. “I don’t think we should argue with these people because the scientific evidence is so enormous that we no longer have any doubt that we are causing global warming,” he argued.
Pope Francis also reminds in the letter that he is often misinformed that efforts to curb climate change, such as reducing the use of fossil fuels and developing clean energy, will reduce the number of jobs. He counters the argument that it is the effects of climate change that are leaving people helpless and that a wellmanaged transition can create jobs in various sectors.
In the next chapter he recalled that in Laudato Si he gave a brief explanation of the technocratic paradigm, which gives an idea of infinite and unlimited technological and economic growth, which is the basis of the process of environmental destruction. Here the Pope emphasizes that a healthy environment is also a product of human interaction with the environment, as is the case with indigenous peoples.
Another highlight is what he calls the “ethical decay of real power,” which is obscured by marketing and disinformation. An example of this is when there is interest in starting a project with a large impact on the environment. The Pope explains that those interested in these projects deceive the local population by arguing that the venture will bring progress, economic opportunities and development. “In reality, however, there is a lack of real interest in the future of these people because they are not clearly told that in the future they will find a devastated country and far less favorable living and prosperity conditions (…), in addition to global damage,” says it.
The third chapter is dedicated to the fragility of international politics. The Pope invites readers to recognize that many civil society groups and organizations are helping to make up for the shortcomings of the international community. It underlines that civil society is capable of creating effective dynamics that the United Nations cannot.
This requires the introduction of a new decisionmaking mechanism that takes into account spaces for dialogue, consultation, arbitration, conflict resolution and monitoring. According to the Holy Father, it is about greater “democratization” in the global sphere, in order to express and include different situations.
The fourth chapter is dedicated to the United Nations climate conferences. Francisco notes that the agreements reached at these events were poorly implemented due to the lack of adequate mechanisms to control, periodically review and sanction violations. “International negotiations cannot progress significantly due to the positions of countries that put their national interests above the global common good,” he quoted in the letter.
The fifth chapter is about the next Conference of the Parties (COP28), which will take place in the United Arab Emirates, a major fossil fuel producer. Francisco says that if COP28 is to be historic, it must commit to an efficient, intensive energy transition with the commitment of all international politics. Only in this concrete way will it be possible to significantly reduce carbon dioxide and prevent more serious diseases in time,” he says.
In the sixth chapter he talks about spiritual motivations for Catholic believers and those of other religions in this time of climate crisis. He notes that efforts to pollute less, curb rampant consumption and consume sensibly are creating a new culture. “The simple fact that personal, family and community habits are changing is fueling concern about the responsibilities not fulfilled by the political sectors and outrage at the disinterest of the powerful,” he says. It is argued that this behavior, even if it does not immediately produce a relevant quantitative effect, contributes to carrying out major transformation processes in society.