Reduce growth or perish, says Pope

19 giugno 2015

2 min di lettura

(AGI) Vatican City, June 18 - Pope Francis tackled the risksposed by climate change and possible wars over dwindlingresources, in an encyclical. "We need also to think ofcontaining growth in some parts of the world and provideresources so that other parts of the world might have a healthygrowth," he said. The statement holds the solution to the manycomplex problems analysed by Pope Francis in the "Laudato Si"encyclical . It outlines an apocalyptic scenario in its 190pages. This follows his statement on a "third world war foughtin pieces", a possible environmental catastrophe provoked bynuclear weapons. His statement says: "It is expected that, inthe face of the depletion of some resources, one would becreating a favorable scenario for new wars, disguised withlofty claims. War always causes serious damage to theenvironment and the cultural wealth of the people, and therisks become huge when you think of nuclear energy andbiological weapons." In addition those who flee pay with theirlives for the "poverty exacerbated by environmentaldegradation... unfortunately there is a general indifference tothese tragedies, which commonly occur in different parts of theworld," he wrote. The most anticipated chapter, in view of theParis Climate Conference to be held in December, concerns theclimate changes he sees as already having occurred. He statesthat despite the existence of other causes, such as the shiftin the Earth's axis, it is irresponsible not to drasticallylimit greenhouse gas emissions that are indicated as the maincause of global warming in numerous scientific studies. "It hasalso been affected by the increase in the practice of land-usechange, primarily deforestation for agricultural purposes." Hewent on: "The external debt of poor countries has become aninstrument of control, but the same thing does not happen withthe ecological debt. It is necessary that developed countriescontribute to solving this debt limit so important to theconsumption of non-renewable energy, and bringing resources tothe countries most in need to promote policies and programs forsustainable development." He goes on to attack corruptpoliticians and obliging media: "The forecast of theenvironmental impact of business initiatives and projectsrequires political processes transparent and subjected todialogue, while corruption that hides the true environmentalimpact of a project in exchange for favours often leads toambiguous agreements beyond the duty to inform and in-depthdebate.".