Pope in Africa: Failure to get agreement in Paris would be 'catastrophic' for the planet, Pope tells UN

A failure by world leaders to confront climate change in Paris would be a catastrophe, Pope Francis said in a visit to the United Nations Office in Nairobi where he also indicated support for a move to zero carbon emissions. 

His remarks came just days before the UN gathering in the French capital, which is hoping to create a legal binding and universally accepted agreement on protecting the environment. 

“It would be sad, and I dare say even catastrophic, were particular interests to prevail over the common good and lead to manipulating information in order to protect their own plans and projects,” Francis said. 

“In the international context, we are confronted with a choice that cannot be ignored: either to improver or destroy the environment.”

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The Pope said the Paris meeting can create a “new energy system” which is dependent on minimal use of fossil fuels and relies on sources with “little or no carbon content.”

Francis has made the environment one of the themes of his pontificate with an encyclical, Laudato si’ , released in May of this year. He also addressed the topic during a speech at the UN headquarters in New York in September. 

In the same way as he did in New York, the Pope warned leaders meeting in Paris not to fall  into a “declarationist nominalism” which simply condemns problems rather than seeking to find solutions.

In the 21st century, the Pope explained, humanity has a chance to show how it “generously shouldered” its responsibilities in relation to the environment as opposed to the post-industrial era which he said is likely to be remembered as one of the “most irresponsible in history.”

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During his speech he also looked ahead to two forthcoming international gatherings: the UN Habitat-III conference in Quito next year, which will focus on housing and sustainable development, and the 10th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which will take place in Nairobi next month. 

For the first, the Pope hoped that it will help with city planning that sees an elimination of pockets of inequality and urban poverty which has arisen through urbanisation. 

The second meeting, Francis explained, should ensure health care and basic treatment can be made accessible to all and that the elimination of malaria, tuberculosis and childhood diseases should come before commercial and political interests. 

Before the speech the Pope planted a tree in the park of the United Nations centre. It is the second tree he has planted during the visit: the first was at State House yesterday.