Oct. 4, 2023, 10:00 AM UTCPope Francis made his strongest statements yet about climate change Wednesday, rebuking fossil fuel companies and urging countries to make an immediate transition to renewable energy.
The pope does not shy away from the responsibility of oil and gas companies, saying new fossil fuel exploration only further contributes to the climate crisis. “[W]hatever is being done risks being seen only as a ploy to distract attention,” he writes.hindering aggressive action on climate change The pope also calls out the coming United Nations Climate Change Conference, also called COP28, which is being held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in the United Arab Emirates., saying they fear negotiations could be watered down because the country is a major oil exporter.
The pope says he hopes COP28 proceedings produce “binding forms of energy transition that meet three conditions: that they be efficient, obligatory and readily monitored.”