Church hierarchy urge climate action

Catholic patriarchs, cardinals, and bishops representing five continents appealed to climate negotiators to approve a “transformative” and fair legally binding agreement that sets global temperature limits and goals for eliminating fossil-fuel emissions. (Story contains interactive graphic)

Representatives of bishops’ conferences from around the globe signed the appeal in a renewed push to encourage climate negotiators meeting in Paris next month to heed Pope Francis’ call to protect God’s creation and the poor, who suffer most from its exploitation.

The Church’s 10-point proposal calls for governments to approve legally binding limits to global average temperatures, set a mid-century goal for phasing out emissions from fossil fuels and provide binding and ambitious mitigation commitments that recognise the different responsibilities for, and abilities to adapt to, global warming.