Vatican official calls for greater international effort to combat climate change

May 26, 2016

Addressing the World Health Organization’s annual World Health Assembly, a Vatican official welcomed the call for universal health coverage in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.

Msgr. Jean-Marie Mupendawatu, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, also called for a greater international effort to combat climate change for the sake of global health.

“With regard to action to combat climate change and its impact on health, my delegation wishes to underscore the need for more political will and strong commitment from civil society in order to reach truly meaningful and effective global agreements on the environment,” he said. “Often international negotiations cannot make significant progress due to positions taken by countries which place their national interests above the global common good.”

 

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Further information:

• Intervento del Capo della Delegazione della Santa Sede alla 69ma Assemblea Mondiale della Sanità Ginevra (Svizzera), 23-28 maggio 2016 (Holy See Press Office)
• The Holy See at the 69th World Health Assembly: Catholic health institutions, committed to fighting neglected diseases (Holy See Press Office)
• 69th World Health Assembly (WHO)
• Sustainable Development Goals