Pope on climate change ahead of Paris summit

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

Pope Francis on Thursday delivered a speech on climate change at the United Nations offices in Nairobi ahead of the COP21 climate summit in Paris on Nov. 30.

"In a few days, an important meeting on climate change will be held in Paris...It would be sad, and I dare say even catastrophic, were particular interests to prevail over the common good," Pope Francis told thousands who were gathered at the United Nations.

Pope Francis said concerning the environment humanity faces one choice and one choice alone,"either to improve or to destroy the environment".

"COP21 represent an important stage in the process of developing a new energy system which depends on a minimal use of fossil fuels, aims at energy efficiency and makes use of energy sources with little or no Carbon content."

Pope Francis said that world leaders are faced with a great political and economic obligation to rethink and correct the dysfunctions and distortions of the current model of development.

For his part Achim Steiner, United Nations executive director, told the pope that it was an honor for the UN family to host him during his maiden visit to Africa.

He thanked the pope for using his voice to reach across many boundaries to raise awareness about climate change.

"You have spoken to the challenges of our time with compassion, clarity and empathy, you have shown unwavering commitment to confronting injustice, intolerance and inhumanity," Achim told the pope.

"You have combined the force of science and knowledge with spiritual values and moral orientation."

Achim said that when the pope last visited the United Nations General Assembly he shared a vision of a world in which people and nature live in harmony.

The pope planted a tree at the United Nations, a symbolic act meaningful to many cultures.

He also told the UN General Assembly to avoid "every temptation to fall into a declarationist nominalism which would assuage our consciences."