23. The climate is a common good of all and for
all. It, globally, is a com-
plexus in connection with many conditions essen-
tial for human life. There is a scientific consensus
tific very consistent it is indicating that we are in
presence of a disturbing heating of the
climate system. In recent decades, this re-
heating was accompanied by constant
you rise in sea level, and is also
hard not to relate this with the rise
extreme weather events, regardless
by the fact that we can not attribute a cause
scientifically determined each phenomenon
no particular. Humanity is called to follow
awareness of the need to change styles
of life, of production and consumption, for com-
beat this heating or, at least, the causes
that produce human or accentuates. It is true
that there are other factors (such as volcanism, the
and changes in the orbit of the Earth, the cycle
Solar), but numerous scientific studies indicate
that most of the global warming
in recent decades it is due to the large concentration
traction of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane
no, nitric oxide and others) mainly emitted in
due to human activity. Their concentration
in the atmosphere that prevents the heat of the rays
solar reflections from the earth being dispersed in space.
This is especially enhanced by the model of
development based on the intensive use of fuels
fossil, which is at the center of the energy system
world. It has also affected the increase in practical
policy change in land use, mainly
mind deforestation for agricultural purposes.
24. In turn, the heating has effects on
the carbon cycle. Creates a vicious cycle
aggravates the situation even more and that will affect
on the availability of essential resources such as ac-
drinking water, energy and agricultural production
of the hottest areas, and will result in the extinction
of the planet's biodiversity. The dissolution
tion of polar ice and high altitude ones
threat leakage at high risk of gas me-
tano, and decomposition of organic matter
ca frozen could further accentuate
the emission of carbon dioxide. In turn,
the loss of tropical forests makes things worse,
since they help to mitigate the change
climate. The pollution dall'anidride
Carbon increases the acidity of the oceans and com-
He promises the marine food chain. If the voltage
dence current continues, this century could
to witness climate change inau-
fingers and unprecedented destruction of
ecosystems, with serious consequences for all of us.
The raising of the level of the sea, for example,
It may create situations of extreme gravity when taking into
realize that a quarter of the world population
He lives by the sea or very close to it, and
Most megacities are located in
coastal areas.
25. Climate change is a problem
with serious implications for global environmental, social,
economic, distributive epolitiche, area and are
no one of the main current challenges for humanity.
Impacts heavier probably will fall
in the coming decades on developing countries.
Many poor people living in particularly
affected by phenomena related to heating, and
their livelihoods depend strongly
mind the natural reserves and by so-called ser-
vices of the ecosystem, such as agriculture, fisheries and
forest resources. They have no other availability
economic and other resources to enable them
to adapt to climate impacts or to cope
in catastrophic situations, and have little access
social services and protection. For example, chan-
mate change give rise to migrations
animals and plants that can not always adapt
tarsiers, and this in turn affects the resources pro-
duction of the poorest, and they also see ob-
bligati to migrate with great uncertainty about the future
their lives and their children. Tragically, the increase
of migrants fleeing the misery compounded by
environmental degradation, which are not recognized
you as refugees in international conventions
and carry the burden of their lives abandoned
without any protection legislation. Unfortunately there is a
general indifference in the face of these tragedies,
still occurring in different parts of the world.
The lack of responses to these dramaturgical
It of our brothers and sisters is a sign of
loss of a sense of responsibility for our
like that underpin any civilized society.
26. Many of those who hold more resources
and economic or political power seem to con-
centered mainly in mask problems or
hide the symptoms, seeking only to reduce
some negative impacts of climate change
But many signs indicate that these effects Po-
tranno always be worse if we continue
with current patterns of production and con-
sumo. Therefore it has become urgent and compelling the
policy development so that in the coming years
the emission of carbon dioxide and other gases
highly polluting is reduced drastically, to
example, by replacing fossil fuels and de-
veloping renewable energy sources. In the world
There is a small level of access to clean energy
and renewable. There is still a need to develop
appropriate technology accumulation. However,
in some countries there has been progress that it came
cyan to be significant, will be far away
from reaching a significant proportion. There
They were also some investments in modali-
ty of production and transport that consume
less energy and require less amount of
raw materials, as well as in the mode of construction
tion or renovation of buildings which do best-
no energy efficiency. But these good practices
that they are far from becoming general.
II: A Question of Water
27. Other indicators of the current situation are
linked to the depletion of natural resources. Co-
nosciamo well the impossibility of sustaining the imple-
current level of consumption of more developed countries
and more affluent sectors of society, where the inhabitants
tude to waste and throw away reaches levels
unheard. Already they have exceeded certain maximum limits
of exploitation of the planet, without it having been
solved the problem of poverty.
[...]While the quality of the available water
steadily worse, in some places advances
the tendency to privatize this scarce resource,
transformed into a commodity subject to the laws of the market
ed. In fact , access to safe drinking water is
an essential human right, a fundamental and universal,
because it determines the survival of people, and for this
I'm a condition for the exercise of other human rights.
This world has a serious social debt to the
poor who have no access to drinking water,
because that is to deny them the right to life
rooted in their inalienable dignity.
[...] Increasing water scarcity will cause
the rising cost of food and of various pro-
products that depend on its use. Some studies
They have reported the risk of suffering an acute Scar-
sity of water within a few decades if we do not act
urgently. The environmental impacts potrebbe-
ro hit billions of people, and on the other hand is
foreseeable that the control of water by
large companies worldwide to turn into one of the
major sources of conflict in this century.
32. Even the earth's resources are depre-
dates due to ways of understanding the economy and
the business and productive too tied
the immediate result. The loss of forests and bovine
risks implies at the same time the loss of species
that could be in the future resources extreme
tremely important, not only for the primary power source
it, but also for the treatment of diseases and for molte-
ple services. Different species contain genes
which can be key resources to respond
in the future to some human need or resolve
some real environmental problem.
33. But do not just think of the different species
just as any "resources" exploitable size
ticando that have a value in themselves. Every
year disappear thousands of plant species and
animals that we can no longer know, that
Our children can not see, he lost for always
pre. The vast majority is extinguished by
reasons that have to do with some active
human life. Because of us, thousands of species
They will not give glory to God with their lives or
They can communicate their message. Not
we have the right. [We do not have the right]
[...]
If we take into account the fact that the essence
the human being is a creature of this world,
He has the right to live and be happy, and also
a special dignity, we can not fail to
consider the effects of environmental degradation,
the current model of development and culture
Scrap on people's lives. [Right to happiness, a Catholic principle! Echoing the Enlightenment and the Declaration of independence!]