Pope: Environmental Issues are Human Rights Issues

Pope Benedict XVI, whose
papacy has seen the Vatican take steps toward reducing carbon pollution and
improving overall sustainability, is calling
for action to protect global natural resources and curb global warming.

"We can no longer do
without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-styles," he
said in remarks prepared for the annual
World Day of Peace address.

In the notes, the pope calls
on industrialized nations to adopt more responsible lifestyle practices and
reduce energy consumption as part of a larger effort to prevent the global
warming and resultant effects that could exacerbate the plight of the world's
poor and provoke international conflict.

"[Global warming and
other environmental concerns] are issues with a profound impact on the exercise
of human rights, such as the right to life, food, health and development,"
he said.