At the risk of channeling Cassandra, the cursed prophet of Greek mythology, I think the earth is heading toward a perilous catastrophe due to our human-induced warming of the planet, which is unfolding before our very eyes. Now is the time to listen to the scientists and religious leaders, whose warnings could not be any clearer!
Last month, Pope Francis issued his apostolic exhortation, “Laudate Deum” (Praise God), on the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. In this document, the pope warns the world that we are fast approaching the “point of no return,” as global warming is quickly heading toward a scary 2.7-degree higher temperature than the pre-industrial average.
“Even if we do not reach this point of no return, it is certain that the consequences would be disastrous and precipitous measures would have to be taken, at enormous cost and with grave and intolerable economic and social effects. Although the measures that we can take now are costly, the cost will be all the more burdensome the longer we wait,” he wrote.
In this most relevant and essential message, the pope devotes some 10 paragraphs targeted specifically to climate crisis naysayers who propose alternate theories devoid of scientific proof. He asks these foot-dragging climate deniers to come to an honest evaluation of what’s happening to our climate – thanks to human causes – before we enter a planetary epic point of no return. He said, “Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident.” He notes now is the time to “move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned” toward “the courage needed to produce substantial changes.”
He added this warning, “When human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies!” He says we need to re-evaluate our current “use of power,” moving toward a more “sound ethic, a culture and spirituality genuinely capable of setting limits and teaching clear-minded self-restraint.”
Pope Francis announced recently that he would be personally attending and participating in the upcoming U.N. Climate Change Conference, COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He will address the summit Dec. 2 along with his friend, the grand imam of Al-Azhar and chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, Ahmed Al-Tayeb. On Dec. 3, he and the grand imam will bless the Faith Pavilion, the first center for interfaith programming and engagement at COP28.
Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, the secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Elders, explained the importance of Pope Francis’ attendance at the summit. He said, “His Holiness is one of the pivotal players at the international level and one of the prominent faith leaders dedicated to this issue of climate change.” He went on to explain that “climate change is a pressing challenge for the human fraternity and peace project, which Pope Francis and the grand imam have taken very seriously over the recent years. They highlighted this in the Document on Human Fraternity by emphasizing how important it is that we take care of the planet and the earth, our common home.”
Climatologists predict that the earth is at a critical threshold for global warming. If we do not shift away from the use of fossil fuels within the next 10 years, we risk plunging the planet and all its inhabitants into peril. They tell us that the past 12-month period of life on earth witnessed the hottest temperatures worldwide in at least the past 125,000 years! Do you remember the soaring temperatures, fierce wildfires, powerful storms and devastating floods of the past few years? That’s just the start of the detrimental effects of the warming of the earth that increased beyond the predictions of all the experts. “The likely impacts of this extra heat are well-understood,” said Dr. Hannah Cloke, a climate scientist and professor at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. “We are already seeing its impact in more violent storms, heavier rains and floods, and more intense, frequent and longer heat waves, droughts and wildfires.”
For the sake of life as we have known it on planet earth, let us heed the warnings now while we still have time, so that we can bequeath to future generations a sustainable and habitable home for them!
Father Joseph D. Wallace is diocesan director of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs and pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish, Atco.
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