Pope calls for global climate deal

(ANSA) - Nairobi, November 26- Pope Francis on Thursday called for a "transformational" agreement at the upcoming Paris climate conference, and said it would be catastrophic if private interests were put before the common good when reaching a deal.
    In a speech at the United Nations' Nairobi office during his first visit to Africa, Francis said he hoped an accord at the U.N.'s Climate Change Conference (COP21), which begins on November 30, would aim to lessen the impact of climate change, fight poverty and respect human dignity.
    "I express my hope that COP21 will achieve a global and 'transformational' agreement based on the principles of solidarity, justice, equality and participation," Francis said.
    He said the world faced "a choice which cannot be ignored: either to improve or to destroy the environment".
    Global delegations are due to convene for the summit in Paris as the French capital is still recovering from the November 13 terror attacks which killed 130 people.
    Francis said it would be sad and even catastrophic if business and private interests led to manipulation of the climate talks for personal rather than common goals.
    The summit represents a chance for leaders to give a "clear signal" that the world is heading in a new direction towards an energy system that relies minimally on fossil fuels, aims for energy efficiency and makes use of resources with little or no carbon content, Francis said.
    Developing economic and political systems that serve their people and respect the environment are a "realistic prospect" rather than an "idealistic utopia", he said, and a more responsible approach to environmental issues could be achieved through education and training. This would involve fostering a culture of care to replace what Francis described as the "throwaway culture" prevalent today that uses and discards people and resources recklessly.
    He called for "an educational process which fosters in boys and girls, women and men, young people and adults, the adoption of a culture of care - care for oneself, care for others, care for the environment".
    The new approach should also ensure that multilateral discussions include the views of poorer countries, and take note of the risks faced by vulnerable parts of Africa, the pope said.
    He said Africa's beauty and richness is "constantly exposed to the risk of destruction caused by human selfishness of every type".