Pope Francis: World response to climate change should be similar to world war

Pope Francis said on Tuesday that the wounds inflicted on humanity by the COVID-19 disease on the one hand and climate change on the other are comparable to a world war and must be confronted in the same way.

In his message to the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), read by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the world's Catholic leader also stressed that rich countries have an outstanding environmental debt to poorer countries due to the improper use of developing countries' natural resources.

He continued his speech by calling for collective and far-sighted action to overcome the climate crisis, similar to what happened after World War II with solidarity among nations and assistance to weaker countries.

Pope Francis stated that countries with more resources should take the lead in decarbonizing and freeing their economic systems from greenhouse gases.

The world's Catholic leader, who pays special attention to environmental protection, had previously expressed hope that he would be able to attend the United Nations climate summit, but the Vatican announced last month that Parolin would represent him at the summit.

Source: Radio Farda