Scientists at Paris summit cite God, faith to bolster climate change action
Negotiators at the COP21 climate summit in Paris are entering the second and final week of the high-stakes talks with a draft agreement but some thorny issues left to iron out before Friday, mostly dealing with which parts to make legally binding — it looks like the most likely option is verifying progress on nations' own emissions targets — and deciding how much financial assistance wealthy countries will provide to developing nations. There is some optimism, and plenty of urgency. "We're talking about life itself," French Minister Laurent Fabius told the delegates in an emotional address Saturday night. "I intend to muster the experience of my entire life to the service of success for next Friday."
But climate scientists have been down this road before, and over the past 11 years, international negotiators have tried and failed to reach an international accord. This time, The Associated Press reports, some influential scientists have embraced a higher power, and also Pope Francis. "You can argue the science until cows come home, but that just appeals to people's intellect," says Marcia McNutt, the incoming head of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and former director of the U.S. Geological Survey and Science editor. "The pope's argument appeals to someone's heart. Whenever you appeal to someone's heart that's a much more powerful message."
Pope Francis has continued putting pressure on the climate negotiators, and the faithful have turned out in Paris to work and pray for a meaningful agreement. "The environment movement, which has primarily been a secular one, has realized that over the last 30 years or so it's not been that successful in achieving its goals," explained Joe Ware of Christian Aid. "Increasingly it has looked to faith groups for help in mobilizing a broader movement of people calling for action on climate change. They are actually natural allies as almost all faiths have a theology of creation care at their heart."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
John Schellnhuber, founder of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany and a member of the Vatican's Pontifical Academy of Sciences, says the international negotiators "know they will be measured against the encyclical," referring to the pope's ecological/moral tract Laudato Sí. He hasn't seen much evidence of that happening in the first week, AP reports, "but he has faith it will."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
4 ways to give back this holiday season
The Explainer If your budget is feeling squeezed, remember that money is not the only way you can be generous around the holidays
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
4 tips for hosting an ecofriendly Thanksgiving
The Week Recommends Coming together for the holidays typically produces a ton of waste, but with proper preparation, you can have an environmentally friendly gathering.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published