CHAPTER ONE
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COMMON HOME
18. The continued acceleration of changes affecting humanity and the planet is coupled today with a more intensified pace of life and work which might be called “rapidification”. Although change is part of the working of complex systems, the speed with which human activity has developed contrasts with the naturally slow pace of biological evolution. Moreover, the goals of this rapid and constant change are not necessarily geared to the common good or to integral and sustainable human development. Change is something desirable, yet it becomes a source of anxiety when it causes harm to the world and to the quality of life of much of humanity.
The Pope has a exceptionally good working knowledge of this topic. He is absolutely correct. One of the aspects of the climate crisis is the fact this is as stated for decades by scientists, "rapid climate change." There is no easing into this planetary dynamic. It is induced by a rapid increase in greenhouse gases resulting in increased insulation of Earth infrared emissions. Pope Francis is very through in his understanding. I am impressed.
19. Following a period of irrational confidence in progress and human abilities, some sectors of society are now adopting a more critical approach. We see increasing sensitivity to the environment and the need to protect nature, along with a growing concern, both genuine and distressing, for what is happening to our planet. Let us review, however cursorily, those questions which are troubling us today and which we can no longer sweep under the carpet. Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it.
"both genuine and distressing," relates a clear understanding of the genuine knowledge of the climate crisis, but, this is not simply scientific record keeping, there is a real emotional component that can be considered 'a call to awareness.' One might ask how many times have scientists, other than health issues and where that intersects with products, sincerely rendered a call to awareness? This is not their usual habit. The history of work is mostly an incredible and even vast publications of articles and books that really aren't of interest to anyone by scientists. This is different this time. Scientists have been refused brevity to this issue when it was nothing but quiet presentation to others in science and government. Now, it is urgent and the people have to know how serious this can impact their lives.
