（2019．12.4 Vatican News）
第２５回国連気候変動枠組み条約締約国会議（ＣＯＰ２５）が２日、スペインの首都マドリードで開幕したが、教皇フランシスコは会議開幕に当たって、出席したバチカンのピエトロ・パロリン国務長官を通じて、メッセージを送られた。
この会議は、温暖化対策の国際ルール「パリ協定」の本格実施を来年に控え、各国が温室効果ガスの削減目標の引き上げや、新たな排出抑制策を打ち出す機運が高まるか、パリ協定の運用の具体的な仕組みづくりで合意できるか、が焦点となっている。
（以下翻訳中）
Pope Francis begins by referring to the December 2015 Climate Conference and its adoption of the Paris agreement to “work together in building our common home”.
Sadly, writes the Pope, after four years, studies show that “the current commitments made by States to mitigate and adapt to climate change are far from those actually needed to achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement”.
Words and actions
“They demonstrate how far words are from concrete actions”, writes Pope Francis. While recognizing the growing agreement “on the need to promote processes of transition”, to encourage solidarity, and reinforce the links between climate change and poverty, the Pope says there is “much concern about the ability of these processes to respect the timeline required by science”.
Political will
Pope Francis asks if there is “the political will to allocate with honesty, responsibility and courage, more human, financial and technical resources to mitigate the negative effects of climate change”. The Pope confirms the need for a “clear, far-sighted and strong political will”, and calls us “to reflect conscientiously on the significance of our consumption and production models and on the processes of education and awareness to make them consistent with human dignity.”
Challenge of civilization
In his message, Pope Francis says we are facing a “challenge of civilization” in favour of “the common good and of a change of perspective that places this same dignity at the centre of our action, which is clearly expressed in the “human face” of climate emergencies.” The Pope confirms that there remains a “window of opportunity, but we must not allow it to close”.
Young people
Pope Francis speaks of how young people today “show a heightened sensitivity to the complex problems that arise from this emergency.” We must not place the burden on the next generations to take on the problems caused by the previous ones, he writes.
The Pope concludes wishing we may offer the next generation “concrete reasons to hope and work for a good and dignified future!”
（翻訳「カトリック・あい」南條俊二）
