Pope to publish updated climate thesis on October 4 weeks before COP28 in UAE

Pope to publish updated climate thesis on October 4 weeks before COP28 in UAE

His so-called encyclical in 2015 laid the blame for global warming squarely on humanity’s shoulders, and was seen as influential in United Nations climate talks in Paris later that year that led to landmark commitments.

At his weekly audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Pope Francis set the date for his new version as October 4 - just weeks before the next round of UN talks, at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates in November and December.

The COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, will be held from November 30 until December 12, 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai.

“On that date I intend to publish an exhortation, a second Laudato si,” he said.

“Let us join our Christian brothers and sisters in the commitment to safeguard Creation as a gift of the Creator.

“It is necessary to stand with the victims of environmental and climate injustice, striving to bring an end to the senseless war on our common home, which is a terrible world war.”

Earlier this month, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the updated document would focus in particular on recent extreme weather events and catastrophes across the world.

In his 2015 thesis “on care for our common home”, the Argentine pope urged