Extreme hurricanes show time for climate change denial is over, Vatican says

Recent extreme weather events, such as the hurricane that devastated parts of Florida, in the United States, show that the time of denial and skepticism about climate change is over, a Vatican official said on Tuesday (4).

Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the Vatican’s development office, made his remarks at a news conference as he presented “The Letter,” a new film about the climate crisis from two-time Emmy winner Nicolas Brown.

The film takes its title from Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si” (Praise be to you), on defending the environment. It premiered at the Vatican on Tuesday and will be available for free on YouTube Originals. This October 4th, the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.

“The time for speculation, skepticism and denial, irresponsible populism is over,” said Czerny.

“Apocalyptic floods, megadroughts, disastrous heat waves and catastrophic cyclones and hurricanes have become the new normal in recent years; they continue today; tomorrow they will be worse,” he said.

Last week, Hurricane Ian, one of the most violent storms to hit the United States, killed more than 100 people and devastated tens of thousands of property.

At the time the papal encyclical was published, some Catholics allied with conservative political movements and corporate interests criticized the pope for supporting the view of most scientists who said global warming was at least in part due to human activity.

Francisco, 85, strongly supports the UN’s 2015 Paris Agreement goals to reduce global warming and the use of fossil fuels. Former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement, but his successor, Joe Biden, has rejoined it.

Hoesung Lee, a South Korean economist who chairs the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), told the press conference that “the stakes have never been higher” on the need to curb global warming.

“The IPCC assessment clearly points out that climate impacts and risks are becoming increasingly complex and more difficult to manage, and that accelerated and equitable action on climate change mitigation and adaptation is critical to sustainable development,” Lee said. .

“Both the scientific and religious communities are very clear. The planet is in crisis and its life support systems are in danger,” he said.

Czerny said runaway climate disruption and environmental degradation would lead to loss of life and livelihoods, forced displacement and violent conflict.

The film, which includes conversations with the pope, looks at climate change through the eyes of an indigenous leader in the Amazon, young people, the poor and researchers studying its effects on coral reefs.