The Holy See said this week that progress in the field of renewable energy is key for poverty eradication.
Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See’s permanent observer at the United Nations noted how developing countries have the potential to produce a large percentage of renewable energy, but lack the money to get such programmes started.
Low carbon technologies like harvesting solar and wind power incur very high initial expenses, he said, but access to these innovations, he added, will allow developing countries to meet their growing demand for energy.
In his talk during the debate on energy at the current UN general assembly, he said discussions on energy “should take into account the human and environment long term costs”. Environmental exploitation without regard to the future may provide a short term economic growth but such growth comes at a great price.
The costs, he noted, are being carried by those who do not have the ability to protect themselves from climate change.
The field of renewable energy is a challenge for everyone, he said, from governments to the private sector, keeping in mind that the consumption pattern of today will be felt by future generations.
Before concluding his talk to the energy debate at the United Nations, Archbishop Migliore called for proper energy awareness education.
Policies for new and renewable energy, he said, must place responsible human stewardship of the earth at the centre of all efforts to address the causes and consequences of climate change.