Pope Francis has warned that the world"is collapsing" due to global warming, urging participants of the upcoming COP28 talks to agree to binding policies on phasing out fossil fuels.
But the next round of UN climate talks opening in Dubai on 30 November"can represent a change of direction", with real commitments to moving from fossil fuels to clean energy sources such as wind and solar, he said. But the UN warned last month that the world is not on track to meet these goals, while climate monitors predict 2023 will be the hottest in human history, with the Northern Hemisphere's summer marked by heatwaves, droughts and wildfires.In his follow-up today, running to 12 pages in the original Spanish, Francis expressed hope"that COP28 will allow for a decisive acceleration of energy transition, with effective commitments subject to ongoing monitoring".
He referenced concerns about the UN talks being held in oil-rich United Arab Emirates, noting that while it was a"great exporter of fossil fuels" it also made"significant investments" in renewable energy sources.