Pope Francis begins to rally public in a way that politicians can no longer ignore
Media Contacts
Environment America
WASHINGTON, DC – In an historic joint address to Congress this morning, Pope Francis quoted his June enyclical on climate change and the environment, reasserting his call for a “courageous and responsible effort” to avert climate catastrophe. “I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States – and this Congress – have an important role to play,” he said. Tens of thousands gathered on the National Mall view the speech and rally around his moral call to action.
Anna Aurilio, director of Environment America’s Washington D.C. office and head of the group’s Global Warming Solutions program, issued the following statement:
“Pope Francis has made clear that it’s our moral obligation to solve the climate crisis, and his call for a bold international effort to cut global warming pollution is resonating. Broad, bipartisan majorities of Americans and the throngs gathered on the Mall today stand with the pope in support of climate action. While polluters and their allies in Congress are still trying to stand in the way of global warming solutions like the Clean Power Plan, already the pope’s message is helping to rally the public in a way that politicians can no longer ignore.”
