Pope Francis: Climate activist?

Activist Pope Francis Takes a Strong Stance on Climate Change

Activist and pope – historically, they’re not two words that go together. But they have over the past decade, especially when it comes to climate change. Pope Francis has made climate and the environment a central focus of his papacy. The first big moment came in 2015.

Pope Francis Urges Action on Climate Change

In 2015, Pope Francis released “Laudato Si’,” a major papal document called an encyclical where he urged the world to take climate change seriously and to cut back on material waste and consumption-centered lifestyles. Last month, he revisited the topic, issuing a new major writing called “Laudate Deum.”

A Shift in Tone

Over the past eight years, the world has gotten hotter, and big climate solutions have failed to fully materialize. Pope Francis’ latest document reflects his growing frustration. It is more scathing and includes pointed ethical diagnosis and critique of misunderstandings and willful ignorance.

Pope Francis’ Role in Climate Activism

Pope Francis has announced his plans to attend COP28, the upcoming United Nations climate summit, to put together concrete plans to deal with climate change. His latest document engages with climate denial and takes the powerful to task for choosing wealth over saving lives impacted by climate change.

The Heart of the Message

The heart of Pope Francis’ message is the veracity of anthropogenic climate change linked to fossil fuel extraction and combustion, the complicity of contemporary economic paradigms and modes of power in perpetuating that dynamic, and the disproportionate burden on the poor and vulnerable while rich nations continue to overconsume and do nothing.

Pope Francis’ Legacy

Climate change is a critical issue for Pope Francis, as it is interconnected with issues of poverty, migration, war, and peace. By attending the COP28 climate summit, he hopes to persuade world leaders into immediate action to address climate change.

The Influence of Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ presence at the climate summit could potentially affect the outcome. The summit provides a venue for world leaders to come together and focus on climate, and having someone like Pope Francis who can pressure leaders to come together for a stronger deal is significant.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article primarily focuses on climate change and its interconnectedness with poverty, hunger, health, water, inequalities, consumption, and justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.
• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

These targets reflect the need to address climate-related hazards, poverty eradication, food security, health impacts, access to clean water, reducing inequalities, responsible consumption, and promoting justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into their national policies, strategies, and planning.
• Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line.
• Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment.
• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of the median income.
• Indicator 12.2.1: Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP.
• Indicator 16.3.3: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms.

These indicators can be used to measure progress in terms of disaster impacts, policy integration, poverty rates, hunger prevalence, air pollution mortality, access to safe drinking water, income inequality, resource consumption, and reporting of violence.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators