Pope Francis: 'It is irresponsible to pollute water and air'

Women collecting water

Source: Vatican City

Pope Francis has called the shortage of accessible clean water, a 'fundamental right'. Recalling that about two billion people in the world still have no access to it, he reflects that, "when it is not given the deserving attention, it turns into a source of illness and endangers millions of lives".

He was speaking in a message to the 'Laudato Si' and Big Cities' conference in Rio de Janeiro, urging that human society must "act responsibly for the good of all". He called for a break down of the wall of "indifference" against our "common home", and for us all to open our eyes to the many environmental tragedies that have occurred and continue to occur on a daily basis.

The Pope has recently joined the campaign "Laudato Si' Pledge" promoted by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, an initiative aimed at mobilising at least one million Catholics to turn the recommendations of Francis' encyclical into concrete actions for the planet. In addition to the Pope, the campaign has been endorsed by Cardinals Turkson, Tagle, Ribat, Cupich and Marx and important environmental leaders such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, former UN Climate Director, Christiana Figueres, And May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org.

The executive director of the Movement, Tomás Insua, says: "We are 1.2 billion Catholics all over the world and we have a critical role to play in tackling climate change and the wider ecological crisis. Pope Francis has already changed the discussion around climate change and this pledge is inviting us to put the Church's teachings into action and answer the urgent call for strong political action and lifestyle change put forth in Laudato Si'.

https://catholicclimatemovement.global/

http://seasonofcreation.org/