Pope Francis has asked world leaders to participate at COP28 “a clear and tangible political will, leading to a decisive acceleration of the ecological transition“.

On the second day of the summit of heads of state on climate change, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin took to the COP28 podium to convey Francis’ message.

“I regret not being able to meet with you personally, as I would have liked, but I am present because the time is urgent.” Thus began the speech of what should have been the first Pope to attend a COP, the United Nations international conference on the climate change, which this year is celebrated in Dubaibut for medical recommendation, The Pontiff was forced to cancel his trip.

“I am present because the devastation of creation is an offense to God, a sin that is not only personal but also structural that has repercussions on human beings, especially the weakest; a serious danger that hangs over each one and that threatens to trigger conflict between generations“, has underlined.

Remembering that climate change is caused by emissions of greenhouse gases caused by man, the Pontiff’s words denounce “the ambition to produce and possess has become an obsession, and has led to an unlimited greed, which has made the environment the object of unbridled exploitation.”

Francisco listed the oobstacles that stop political leaders on an unsustainable path for the ecosystem. First, by prioritizing income protection, “sometimes justifying what others have done in the past, with repeated evasion of responsibility.”

Then there are the attempts to shift blame”to the many poor and the number of births“. “It is not the fault of the poor, because almost half of the world, the poorest, is responsible for just 10% of polluting emissions, while the distance between the well-off few and the disadvantaged many has never been so deep “, has said.

In the face of policymakers who might be tempted to overlook the power of multilateralism, Francisco reminded them that it is also key in the fight against climate change. “It is worrying that the warming of the planet is accompanied by a cooling of multilateralism, by a growing distrust in the international community.”

The Holy thirst proposes four pillars to develop to break the self-destructive spiral in which humanity has plunged: energy efficiency, renewable sources, the elimination of fossil fuels and education in lifestyles less dependent on them.

Precisely, this morning, the president of COP28 said that there is no scientific evidence that justifies eliminating fossil fuels.