Pope Francis Calls for Urgent Reduction of Global Carbon Emissions

Pope Francis called for urgent action on reducing fossil fuel use in a draft environmental paper.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Pope Francis called for urgent action on reducing fossil fuel use, warning that global warming is a major challenge for humanity, in a draft environmental paper, obtained by L’Espresso magazine.

In an encyclical called “Laudato Si” (Be Praised), the final version of which is due to be released on June 18, the Pope referenced scientific studies that claim that humanity is facing a “alarming warming” of the climate.

The pope noted that the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions is produced as a result of human activity, warning that there is an urgent need to implement policies that would cut emissions and encourage the use of renewable energy sources.

The paper comes ahead of the crucial UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris in December. It is hoped that the event will conclude with the signing of a global agreement on climate change, replacing the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which failed to introduce a legally binding and universal deal on environmental commitments for all nations of the world.