Nigerian archbishop says industrial countries should bear brunt of fossil-fuel restraints

April 29, 2015

Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria, has argued that the developed countries of the industrial world should bear the brunt of efforts to curb fossil-fuel emissions, rather than imposing the burden on poor nations.

Speaking to Vatican Radio after a conference on climate change, reasoned: "The rich countries, who have already gone very far ahead of the poor countries, ought not to be demanding that the poor countries must still stay where they are for fear of damaging the environment, when it is they who are damaging the environment in more than 80% of the situation."

Cardinal Onaiyekan said that while countries such as the US, China, and Russia should reduce fossil-fuel emissions, "they should allow a small country like Nigeria to start its own factories."

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Onaiyekan: Industrialized world needs to take lead on climate change (Vatican Radio)