Religion
U.S. Catholics Lead in Concern about Climate Change: Yale Study
Pope Francis talks with reporters during his flight from Sri Lanka to Manila, Philippines Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool)
VATICAN (Reuters)—Pope Francis might be preaching to the choir on climate change when he releases his environmental- and sustainability-focused encyclical later this year.
A study released by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication has found that more Catholics in the United States are worried about global warming than other Christian groups and they are more supportive of policy action to reduce the effects of climate change.
The findings come as Pope Francis has taken a strong stance backing action on climate change, saying it is largely a man-made problem and that it risks the lives of the world’s most vulnerable.
He criticised negotiators at U.N. climate talks in Peru last December, saying they had displayed “a lack of courage” in failing to push for stronger action.
“Pope Francis has become the most admired man in America and when he speaks, he speaks with a loud megaphone, one that reaches all people, Catholics and non-Catholics alike,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project.
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