“Climate change right now is a path to death”

Pope Francis says the climate crisis “has reached the point of no return” as the planet continues to see the effects of global warming and world leaders have an even greater responsibility to act.

“How worried are you about climate change?” CBS Evening News anchor and editor-in-chief Norah O’Donnell asked Francis during a historic interview in Vatican City.

“Unfortunately, we have reached a point of no return. It’s sad, but that’s it. Global warming is a serious problem,” replied Francisco. “Climate change right now is a path to death.”

Francis said rich countries that rely on fossil fuels are contributing to the problem.

“It’s the countries that can make the most difference, given their industry and everything else, aren’t they? But it is very difficult to create an awareness of this. bye then. But we have to be very clear: global warming is alarming,” said Francisco.

Climate change is a topic that Francis has spoken openly about since calling out climate change skeptics for urging politicians to do “radical decisions” to protect the planet for future generations.

In 2015, Francis became the first pontiff to address a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, DC, where he called on US lawmakers to adopt “an integrated approach to combat poverty, restore the dignity of the excluded and, at the same time, protect nature”.

Francisco was scheduled to speak at the COP28 climate summit in November, but had to cancel due to illness. He became the first pope to issue official Vatican documents on climate change, warning in 2023 that the world we live in “is collapsing and may be approaching breaking point”.

On Earth Day this year, Francisco wrote a message on social media saying: “Our generation has bequeathed many riches, but we are unable to protect the planet and we are not safeguarding peace. We are called to become artisans and caretakers of our common home, the Earth that is ‘falling into ruins'”.

Watch more of the pope’s in-depth discussion of climate change and other topics in the primetime special “Pope Francis: The First,” airing at 10 p.m. ET only on CBS and streaming on CBS. Paramount+.

Pope Francis: The 60 Minute Interview

Behind the wheel of a $3 million car

The plan for a new city in California