The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin addressed the XXI Conference of the COP21 Convention which is taking place in Paris from November 30 to December 11, 2015.
In the name of Pope Francis, I send cordial greetings to all of you, together with His sincere encouragement to work hard toward the successful outcome of this COP-21.
Last Thursday, November 26, during His speech at the UN Centre in Nairobi, the Holy Father made many references to the COP-21, hoping that it will lead to the adoption of a global transformative agreement, founded on the principles of solidarity, justice, equality and participation, focused on achieving three complex and inter-dependent objectives: alleviating the impact of climate change, combatting poverty, and working toward the flourishing of the dignity of the human person. It would be tragic, he added, if special interests were to prevail over the common good and lead to the manipulation of information.
A global and transformative agreement should have its foundations anchored on three pillars.
The first pillar consists in the adoption of a clear ethical orientation, which inspires the implementation of the motives and purposes of the Agreement. We know very well that the people who are most vulnerable to the impact of the phenomenon of climate change are the poor and future generations, who will suffer the most grave consequences, often without being responsible for the outcomes. It should also be noted that this phenomenon has no political or social limit or barrier which would allow us to isolate ourselves; it reinforces within us the understanding that we are all one human family and that there is no room for the so-called globalization of indifference. Faced with the urgency of a situation that calls for the widest possible collaboration in order to achieve a common plan, it is important that this Agreement be focused on the recognition both of the ethical imperative to act in a context of global solidarity, and of the common but differentiated responsibility of each party, according to our respective capacities and conditions.
The second pillar concerns the fact that the Agreement should be not only concerned with ways for its implementation but also and above all with transmitting clear signals to guide the conduct of all relevant parties to communicate with governments but also with local authorities, the business world, the scientific community and civil society. These are behaviours intended to achieve the three objectives set out by the Holy Father. This requires you to undertake with conviction the path toward a low-carbon based economy and toward integrated human development. The dynamics of this process will depend on how all the parties will engage and collaborate in this endeavour, where there are numerous possibilities to adopt human efforts capable of bringing human dignity to fruition. In this perspective, countries with more resources and abilities should provide good example, bringing resources to countries which are more in need in order to promote policies and programs of sustainable development. For example, I think of the promotion of renewable energy and of dematerialization as well as the development of energy efficiencies; or the adequate management of forests, transportation of waste; the development of a circular model of the economy; implementation of appropriate programs, sustainable and diversified food security and fighting against the wasting of food; strategies to combat speculation and ineffective and sometimes unfair subsidies; and the development and transfer of appropriate technologies. These are all aspects which should guide the effective implementation of the new Agreement.
The third pillar concerns the vision of the future. The COP-21 represents neither a moment of arrival nor a point of departure, but a crucial step in a journey which certainly will not end in 2015. An Agreement with ample time prospective such as that which is at issue should include processes for revision of commitments and transparent, efficient and dynamic follow-up which is capable of progressively augmenting the level of ambition while ensuring adequate controls. In addition, it must seriously consider the implementation of models of production and sustainable consumption, and new attitudes and styles of life. Here, we enter into the fundamental fields of education and formation, unfortunately, at times we place the margins of negotiations on international Agreements. Technical solutions are necessary but not sufficient if we do not enter into the merits of education toward sustainable styles of life and responsible awareness. The current way of life, including its culture of waste is unsustainable and should have no place in our models of education and development. It is a great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge that involves long processes of regeneration (Laudato si', 202).
The Holy Father encourages all of us, so that the COP-21 may be concluded with the adoption of a global and transformative Agreement which has a clear ethical orientation which sends strong signals to all stakeholders and leads to the adoption of a long-term vision which is consistent with the achievement of the three main objectives: alleviating the impacts of climate change, combatting poverty and working toward the flourishing of human dignity.
Thank you.
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| French President François Hollande with Cardinal Pietro Parolin at COP21 in Paris |
Address delivered by His Eminence, Pietro Cardinal Parolin
at the beginning of the COP21 Conference in Paris
In the name of Pope Francis, I send cordial greetings to all of you, together with His sincere encouragement to work hard toward the successful outcome of this COP-21.
Last Thursday, November 26, during His speech at the UN Centre in Nairobi, the Holy Father made many references to the COP-21, hoping that it will lead to the adoption of a global transformative agreement, founded on the principles of solidarity, justice, equality and participation, focused on achieving three complex and inter-dependent objectives: alleviating the impact of climate change, combatting poverty, and working toward the flourishing of the dignity of the human person. It would be tragic, he added, if special interests were to prevail over the common good and lead to the manipulation of information.
A global and transformative agreement should have its foundations anchored on three pillars.
The first pillar consists in the adoption of a clear ethical orientation, which inspires the implementation of the motives and purposes of the Agreement. We know very well that the people who are most vulnerable to the impact of the phenomenon of climate change are the poor and future generations, who will suffer the most grave consequences, often without being responsible for the outcomes. It should also be noted that this phenomenon has no political or social limit or barrier which would allow us to isolate ourselves; it reinforces within us the understanding that we are all one human family and that there is no room for the so-called globalization of indifference. Faced with the urgency of a situation that calls for the widest possible collaboration in order to achieve a common plan, it is important that this Agreement be focused on the recognition both of the ethical imperative to act in a context of global solidarity, and of the common but differentiated responsibility of each party, according to our respective capacities and conditions.
The second pillar concerns the fact that the Agreement should be not only concerned with ways for its implementation but also and above all with transmitting clear signals to guide the conduct of all relevant parties to communicate with governments but also with local authorities, the business world, the scientific community and civil society. These are behaviours intended to achieve the three objectives set out by the Holy Father. This requires you to undertake with conviction the path toward a low-carbon based economy and toward integrated human development. The dynamics of this process will depend on how all the parties will engage and collaborate in this endeavour, where there are numerous possibilities to adopt human efforts capable of bringing human dignity to fruition. In this perspective, countries with more resources and abilities should provide good example, bringing resources to countries which are more in need in order to promote policies and programs of sustainable development. For example, I think of the promotion of renewable energy and of dematerialization as well as the development of energy efficiencies; or the adequate management of forests, transportation of waste; the development of a circular model of the economy; implementation of appropriate programs, sustainable and diversified food security and fighting against the wasting of food; strategies to combat speculation and ineffective and sometimes unfair subsidies; and the development and transfer of appropriate technologies. These are all aspects which should guide the effective implementation of the new Agreement.
The third pillar concerns the vision of the future. The COP-21 represents neither a moment of arrival nor a point of departure, but a crucial step in a journey which certainly will not end in 2015. An Agreement with ample time prospective such as that which is at issue should include processes for revision of commitments and transparent, efficient and dynamic follow-up which is capable of progressively augmenting the level of ambition while ensuring adequate controls. In addition, it must seriously consider the implementation of models of production and sustainable consumption, and new attitudes and styles of life. Here, we enter into the fundamental fields of education and formation, unfortunately, at times we place the margins of negotiations on international Agreements. Technical solutions are necessary but not sufficient if we do not enter into the merits of education toward sustainable styles of life and responsible awareness. The current way of life, including its culture of waste is unsustainable and should have no place in our models of education and development. It is a great cultural, spiritual and educational challenge that involves long processes of regeneration (Laudato si', 202).
The Holy Father encourages all of us, so that the COP-21 may be concluded with the adoption of a global and transformative Agreement which has a clear ethical orientation which sends strong signals to all stakeholders and leads to the adoption of a long-term vision which is consistent with the achievement of the three main objectives: alleviating the impacts of climate change, combatting poverty and working toward the flourishing of human dignity.
Thank you.
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