Pope Francis Urges Action to Address 'Enormous Damage' to Climate

In a new letter from Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church urged global action to address the “enormous damage we have caused” to the environment.

Key Quotes: In his letter, Francis writes that it is “no longer possible to doubt” the human origin of climate change. He writes, “Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident. No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest on the part of the earth that are only a few palpable expressions of a silent disease that affects everyone.” The Pope goes on to single out the United States, writing, “If we consider that emissions per individual in the United States are about two times greater than those of individuals living in China, and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries, we can state that a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact.”

How the Media Covered It: Coverage across the spectrum focused heavily on Francis’ note singling out the United States. Breitbart (Right bias) reported that the Pope “has thrown the moral authority of the papacy behind the so-called climate crisis” and countered Francis’ letter with a statement from “a group of over 1,600 prominent scientists” refuting the existence of a climate crisis.