Pope Francis said climate change is a matter of "epochal proportions" as he told a meeting of oil executives that ensuring energy needs must not lead to the "undesired effect" of climate change, Reuters reported June 9.
"Civilization requires energy but energy use must not destroy civilization," the news outlet cited the pope as saying at a closed-door meeting with about 50 people, including Exxon Mobil Corp. CEO Darren Woods, BP PLC's Bob Dudley, Eni SpA's Claudio Descalzi and Equinor (formerly Statoil ASA) CEO Eldar Saetre, among others. Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of the asset management firm BlackRock Inc., was also present, Reuters reported.
Switching to cleaner forms of energy is "a duty that we owe towards millions of our brothers and sisters around the world, poorer countries and generations yet to come," Pope Francis said, according to Reuters.
"Environmental and energy problems now have a global impact and extent," the pontiff said as he called for a global, long-term common project, the news agency added.
