World

World's Catholic bishops issue appeal to Paris climate talks

World's Catholic bishops issue appeal to Paris climate talks

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pope Francis (second from right) delivers his blessing during a meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Synod of Bishops, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, on October 17, 2015. Photo: AP

VATICAN CITY: Catholic patriarchs, cardinals and bishops representing five continents have issued a 10-point appeal to climate negotiators in Paris to approve a 'transformative' and fair, legally binding agreement that sets global temperature limits and decarbonisation goals to save the planet from climate-induced catastrophe. The representatives of bishops conferences from around the globe signed the appeal Monday in a renewed push to encourage climate negotiators meeting next month to heed Pope Francis' call to protect God's creation and the poor who suffer most from its exploitation. The 10-point proposal calls for governments to approve legally binding limits to global average temperatures, set a mid-century decarbonisation goal and provide binding and ambitious mitigation commitments that recognise the different responsibilities for, and abilities to adapt to, global warming.