Ratify Paris climate agreement, cardinals and other religious leaders urge
April 19, 2016
Some 270 Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and other religious leaders have called upon the world’s nations to sign and ratify the climate change agreement reached at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
Catholic signatories of the interfaith statement include Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, Cardinal Rubén Salazar Gómez of Bogotá, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi (India), and Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
“We recognize the importance of peaking of global emissions by 2020, rapid phasing out of all fossil fuel subsidies and a transition to 100 per cent renewable energies by 2050,” the religious leaders stated. “Climate change presents our global family with the opportunity to embark on a path of spiritual renewal defined by deeper awareness and greater ecological action.”
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Posted by: 1Jn416 -
Apr. 20, 2016 10:41 AM ET USA
Imagine the bishop of a city afflicted with lead in the drinking water speaks out and says the lead pipes need to be replaced. Some cry, "There is no consensus on the dangers of lead!" while others say, "Too expensive!" and still others say "You're not a scientist, stick to religion!" Wouldn't happen, would it? We only say these things when we disagree with the bishop. It is a fascinating phenomenon.
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Posted by: polish.pinecone4371 -
Apr. 19, 2016 7:56 PM ET USA
1JN416, no one is denying climate change or that pollution is bad. The climate has been changing ever since it started. Pollution is bad. What's being challenged is WHY the climate is changing. The claim that it's because of human activity is far from settled. And yes, these religious leaders are exceeding their expertise. They aren't qualified to say 'Limit emissions by a certain time.' Limit them because they cause harm to humans (eg Bhopal), fine, but don't claim authority they don't have.
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Posted by: jalsardl5053 -
Apr. 19, 2016 6:51 PM ET USA
Nothing like bullheadness in the face of facts. Gotta give the polito "scientists" credit for successfully propagating lies about "climate change". Gotta take away credit from the prosecutors of those who want real science. And here I thought lemmings had a monopoly!
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Posted by: loumiamo -
Apr. 19, 2016 4:39 PM ET USA
In q&a after his Lesbos trip, Francis lamented how a bad economy was forcing mothers to work 2 jobs and leave their kids alone. This plan will only extend the misery to all. A managed agri system by the Soviets in the 30's led to massive starvation in the Ukraine. A managed energy policy on a worldwide scale will lead to worldwide disaster. Knowing ur neighbor is also hurting doesn't do u any good. Cue the libs who ignore basic economics in favor of their quest to give us utopia--hell on earth.
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Posted by: 1Jn416 -
Apr. 19, 2016 12:17 PM ET USA
Cue comments from climate change deniers about religious leaders exceeding their area of expertise. Because we all know Tea Party conspiracy theories and conservative Catholicism go hand-in-hand. Why is that, exactly?
