Green MEP Molly Scott Cato has welcomed the warning from the Pope today that climate change is one of the principal challenges facing humanity. The much anticipated encyclical [1] on the environment was published by the Vatican today. Molly Scott Cato said:
"This ground-breaking encyclical presents the moral case on climate change. If that is the case it demonstrates just how immoral our government is. On the very day the Pope makes his urgent plea to political leaders for action on climate change, our government announces it is pulling subsidies for onshore wind and plans to go all out for fracking [2]. "
The encyclical says that humanity is failing in its duty to be responsible stewards of the Earth [3]. The Pope says that climate change is mostly man-made and that people must stop relying on fossil fuels as a source of energy. Molly Scott Cato concluded:
"This is an appeal for responsibility. Yet the Tories are displaying gross irresponsibility. Their policies on energy show their total indifference towards the impacts of climate change."
[1] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/18/popes-encyclical-on-the-environment-key-questions-answered
[2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33177025
[3] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/18/pope-calls-for-open-spirit-towards-climate-change-encyclical