VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis said on Friday that carbon pricing is “essential” to stem global warming — his clearest statement yet in support of penalizing polluters — and appealed to climate change deniers to listen to science. In an address to energy executives at the end of a two-day meeting, he also called for “open, transparent, science-based and standardized” reporting of climate risk and a “radical energy transition” away from carbon to save the planet. Carbon pricing, via taxes or emissions trading schemes, is used by many governments to make energy consumers pay for the costs of using the fossil fuels that contribute to global warming, and to spur investment in low-carbon technology. “For too long we have collectively failed to listen to the fruits of scientific analysis, and doomsday predictions can no longer be met with irony or disdain,” Francis said. Companies including Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Total have laid out plans to expand their renewable energy business and reduce emissions.

Source: National Post June 15, 2019 04:41 UTC