The climate debate is often dominated by scientists, politicians, and different organisations. However, from time to time, church leaders and moral authorities also enters the debate. When Pope Francis makes a statement, it is time to listen. He has a message not only for the world of Catholics, but for the whole world. We need to think about the creation!
Pope Francis has launched his climate change encyclical. An encyclical is an important message from the Pope to the Catholic Church, but this time it has been stressed that the message is for the whole world. And the message is strong.
God gave us an assignment
According to Christian belief, God created earth. He also created humans, and he gave us an assignment, to care for the creation. This assignment can of course be interpreted differently, but Pope Francis is certain. Our current way of living is not a way where we care for the creation. On the contrary, we are exploiting the world, and the beauty of the creation is threatened by emissions, overuse of natural resources and unsustainable consumption.
Time to end an unsustainable way of living
Pope Francis stress that we need to change our way of living, including our consumption. This won’t happen with technology fixes alone, there is need for changes in our traditions and cultures. Politicians, and states, have an important role to play, to create good conditions for transition, and to facilitate change. However, in the end, it is also a question for ordinary people. It may be difficult to change everything from one day to another, but we need to start somewhere, and we need to take our responsibility to care for the creation seriously.
Climate change is also about fairness and moral obligations
The message from the Pope touches upon many issues, and he stress that there is an important link between climate change and poverty. Poor and vulnerable people are affected by climate change already today, but they have little responsibility, as their emissions are limited. At the same time those who have big emissions, in many cases have capacity to manage when climate related storms and floods are hitting their countries. This is not fair, and we have a moral duty to help those in need, and to do what we can to avoid future climate change.
A message for politicians
Pope Francis is not politician, and religion is not the same as politics. However, the moral message from the Pope, is also an important message to politicians and world leaders. As humans, we have a responsibility to act, and politicians can transform this responsibility into legislation and government action. I hope politicians, members of parliaments and congresses, ministers and presidents, around the world listen. Pope Francis has an important message to deliver.
