杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The Holy See鈥檚 voice was heard on Monday at the Cop24 taking place in Katowice, Poland from 2-14 December. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, addressed the High-Level Segment, greeting those present on behalf of 杏MAP导航 Francis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report released in October of this year, he says, indicates that a 鈥渃ollective response鈥� is needed in order to 鈥渨ork together to build our common home鈥�.

Climate change requires political will

Cardinal Parolin cited the IPCC Special Report saying there is still time to recuperate the goals of the Paris Agreement and 鈥渓imit global warming鈥�. This requires a 鈥渟trong political will鈥� in embracing a model for development, technology and behavior that reduces the emission of greenhouse gasses. The Paris Agreement Work Programme, he said, responds to the question regarding whether there is 鈥渟ufficient political will to implement鈥� such new models. Cardinal Parolin said that three things are important for the Holy See regarding this Work Programme. The first is that it be built on 鈥渁 clear ethical foundation鈥�. Secondly, that it be directed toward 鈥渁dvancing the dignity of the human person, alleviating poverty and promoting integral human development鈥�. Lastly, that it focus on meeting both present and future needs.

Climate change connected with job opportunities

A further consideration Cardinal Parolin proposed to implement the Paris Agreement is the availability of 鈥渕ore appropriate job opportunities鈥�. The 鈥渃reation of decent work is significant鈥�, he said, and is connected with human rights, security, and the elimination of poverty especially for people more likely to be affected by 鈥渃limate extremes鈥�.

Climate change is a moral issue

It is becoming clearer that climate change is more a moral issue rather than a technical one, Cardinal Parolin continued. Thus 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� indicated in Laudato Si鈥�, no. 139 that 鈥渟trategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature鈥�. This requires a mentality centred on values that highlight 鈥渢he ethical and human dimension of climate change鈥�.

Climate change requires collective response

Another aspect of the issue is a responsibility to future generations, who should not have to 鈥渁bsorb the problems caused by the previous ones鈥�, the Cardinal said. He repeated 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� hope that humanity of the twenty-first century be 鈥渞emembered for having generously shouldered鈥� its responsibility vis-à-vis the post-industrial period which 鈥渕ay well be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in history (Laudato Si鈥� no. 165)鈥�. For this to become a reality, 鈥渨e have no alternative but to make every effort to implement a responsible, unprecedented collective response, intended to 鈥榳ork together to build our common home鈥� (Laudato Si鈥�, no 13)鈥�.