Pope Francis uses first ever US TV interview to slam climate change deniers as ‘fools’ and insists ‘climate change exists’

Pope Francis spoke out against climate change deniers, calling them “fools” in his first-ever interview on American television.

The often “progressive” pope spoke with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell at the Vatican this week to share his views on violence in Ukraine and Gaza and other important topics.

However, he made a pointed attempt to express his displeasure with those who deny climate change when O’Donnell asked him what he says to those who deny climate change.

“There are people who are foolish, and even foolish when they show your research. they don’t believe it,” he said through an interpreter.

“They don’t understand the situation, or because of their interest, but climate change exists,” he added.

The Pope spoke with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell at the Vatican this week to share his thoughts on the violence in Ukraine and Gaza and other important topics

Climate change is ‘off the charts’ and poses a ‘defining challenge’ for humanity, a damning new report warned in March.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says several climate records were broken and in some cases ‘shattered’ last year.

Greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rise and ice loss in Antarctica will all escalate by 2023 due to fossil fuel emissions.

“Sirens are sounding on all major indicators,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

‘Some records don’t just top the charts, they break the charts – and the changes are accelerating.’

The year 2023 broke the record of ‘any climate indicator’.

Pope Francis also said he would address a parish in Gaza every evening to discuss the ongoing violence.

He said food is being brought to the region, but “they have to fight for it.”

“They don’t understand the situation, or because of their interest, but climate change exists,” he said of climate deniers

In an area near Wahweap Marina that was previously flooded at Lake Powell, the earth is dry and cracked on April 5, 2022 in Page, Arizona

A dead fish carcass lies on dry earth near the Lake Mead Marina during low water levels due to the 2021 western Nevada drought

When asked what can be done for a million children in Gaza who face hunger, he added that they and the children in Ukraine must be helped.

‘Those children don’t know how to laugh. This is very difficult when a child forgets to smile,” he said.

His overall message was: ‘Please, countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Try to negotiate peace.”

Researchers warn that extreme weather events, including floods, tropical cyclones, droughts and forest fires, are linked to global warming and are therefore likely to continue to occur.

These will affect ‘vulnerable populations’ in countries unable to adequately respond that are already affected by food insecurity, such as Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

“Climate change could intensify existing inequalities and social and economic pressures, putting even more pressure on the people and places already under pressure and who have often done the least to cause climate change,” says Dr. Environmental Systems at the Open University.

Professor Tina van de Flierdt, head of the Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering at Imperial College London, called the new report ‘alarming’.

“Overall, the data in the report reinforces that climate change is not a distant threat – it is already here and already impacting lives worldwide,” she said.

“However, it is important to note that we are not yet stuck in this trajectory.

“The future is in our hands, and ongoing climate projects and increased use of clean energy sources offer hope for a just and resilient future.”