Politics

Pope Francis will discuss how to address the world's pressing issues with former President Bill Clinton to open this year's Clinton Global Initiative. Francis will discuss broad issues — including climate change, the refugee crisis, the welfare of children — during an onstage videoconference with Clinton.

At the close of an inaugural summit on climate change hosted this week by the African Union and the government of Kenya, activists who had demanded more than carbon credits and other glossy solutions to deal with climate justice issues rejected the declaration issued Sept. 6 by the political and corporate leaders in attendance. 

Speakers at an Aug. 29 event at Duquesne University on  responses to pollution and climate change, newly elected U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, said pollution in the area is "better" but not good enough. 

Reports have traced funding for the blitz against ESG —  investment practices based on environmental, social and governance criteria — to the fossil fuel industry as well as right-wing and libertarian groups.

Hundreds of faith leaders have called on the Environmental Protection Agency to implement the strongest possible standards to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's fossil fuel-fired power plants.

On another smoky day in Monroe, Michigan, a panel of Catholic religious, a Christian pastor and a University of Michigan pulmonary clinician stressed the need for proposed changes to national greenhouse gas standards.

A provision in 2022's historic climate law that permits tax-exempt entities to qualify for clean energy tax credits is a "game changer" for faith communities, said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

U.S. Catholics join the rest of the nation in strongly backing actions to reduce the impacts of climate change, but they're also more supportive of expanding coal mining, fracking and offshore drilling than other Americans.