Why the US Should Listen to Pope on Alternative Energy
Listen to smart people! The USA and the White House should have heeded Pope Francis’ powerful call for alternative energy . In his groundbreaking encyclical Laudato Si’ , the Pope urged the world to move away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy and clean energy . Yet powerful interests stood in the way. Today, the environmental damage and economic costs scream louder than ever: why didn’t America listen? What Exactly Did Pope Francis Say About Clean Energy? In paragraph 26 of Laudato Si’ (May 24, 2015) , Pope Francis wrote clearly: “There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, for example, substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy. Worldwide there is minimal access to clean and renewable energy.” He repeated the message in paragraph 165: “We know that technology based on the use of highly polluting fossil fuels — espec...