A senior Vatican official has
expressed support for the campaign for a global Fossil Fuels
Non-Proliferation Treaty as part of the effort to stop the
climate crisis spinning out of control.
"The planet already is 1.2°C hotter, yet new fossil fuel
projects every day accelerate our race towards the precipice,"
Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting
Integral Human Development, said Thursday.
"Enough is enough.
"All new exploration and production of coal, oil, and gas must
immediately end, and existing production of fossil fuels must be
urgently phased out.
"This must be a just transition for impacted workers into
environmentally sound alternatives.
"The proposed Fossil Fuel Nonproliferation Treaty holds great
promise to complement and enhance the Paris Agreement".
The proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty would
complement the Paris Agreement by establishing a specific
international mechanism to manage a fair and rapid phase out of
coal, oil and gas that enables countries to reduce their
dependence on fossil fuels, support workers and communities,
transition rapidly to renewable energy, and build more diverse
economies.
It has been endorsed by many scientists and cities, including
London, Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam, and over 1,300
organizations.
Czerny was speaking at the presentation of Pope Francis's
message for the annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of
Creation, which is observed by the Catholic Church on September
1.
In the message the pontiff calls for bolder action from all
nations during this year's COP27 to implement the Paris
Agreement.
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