Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si”, published on 18 June 2015, is a moral plea for action against climate change and environmental degradation. Besides laying out the Pope’s critical stance on the ecological, spiritual and economic motives to ‘save our common home’, it also sends a central message to policy makers that: international political climate action is more important now than ever.
In Chapter Five the Pope outlines the building blocks of the “Dialogue on the Environment in the International Community”. Climate change has to be seen in the context of global interdependence. Local and regional developments linked to climate change have a global effect and entail a responsibility towards those who are and will be most affected. Hence, solutions need to be multilateral and considered from a global perspective.
“Diplomacy”, according to the Pope, “takes on new importance in the work of developing international strategies which can anticipate serious problems affecting us all.” A determined international process built on the mutual respect of sovereignty is central to supplement action by local authorities.
This strong case for climate diplomacy can fall on fertile ground. Indeed, on the occasion of the second European Climate Diplomacy Day - the day before the Papal Encyclical was presented - the EU’s High Representative and Vice-President Federica Mogherini made a clear statement that: tackling climate change is both a national security as well as a moral imperative.
As the pressure for a new international climate agreement to be reached at the Paris COP 21 in December is high, the Pope’s Encyclical with its strong moral rationale can assist policy makers as an added, convincing narrative in making the case for decisive and timely action.
Scientists across the globe are developing live dashboards to study the natural world in unprecedented detail - ushering in a new age of opportunities and ethical dilemmas.
Jair Bolsonaro, Brasil’s current de facto presidential frontrunner, says he would withdraw Brazil from the Paris Agreement if he wins the October election. The withdrawal of such an important developing country, home to the world’s largest rainforest, would deal a blow to international climate cooperation. Bolsorano’s opposition to the international pact has drawn criticism from the UN’s environment chief.
There are only a few weeks to go before international and local leaders from states, regions, cities, businesses, investors and civil society travel to the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco to create a new wave of mobilization. As Earth is at risk of entering a situation of extreme conditions, those going must bring along more than just flowers in their hair.
Until now, no one had seriously doubted that relations between the US and Europe, for all the difficulties and conflicts they have gone through, would continue safe and sound. Since Trump was elected as US President however, the atmosphere has changed. The re-nationalisation of the world order has gained speed and is making clear how far advanced global interdependencies have become. With global multilateralism in crisis, climate diplomacy could act as a new driving force.