Praise God! Laudate Deum! Pope Francis gave us this sequel exhortation to Laudato Si! in October 2023 out of dire concern that “the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing a breaking point.” (2)
He documents, “In the last 50 years the temperature has risen at an unprecedented speed, greater than any time over the last two thousand years… At this rate, it is possible that in just ten years we will reach the recommended maximum global ceiling of 1.5 deg. C. (12).” Francis notes “anthropic” or “human” causes related to carbon emissions. He notes “more than 42% of total net emissions since the year 1850 were produced after 1990.” (11)
Francis addressed COP 28 (Dubai, December 2023): “I am with you because the destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin that is not only personal but structural, one that greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable in our midst, and threatens to unleash a conflict between generations.” He called for acceleration of ecological transition in four sectors: energy efficiency; renewable sources; the elimination of fossil fuels; and education in lifestyles that are less dependent on the latter.