The encyclical "Laudato si: On the Care of Our Common Home" might have scored public relations points among environmentalists last year, but according to a new study, it didn't score any points with Catholics or the broader U.S. population.
Sam Wood writes: "Pope Francis’s call last year for 'swift and unified global action' to reverse climate change fell largely on deaf ears and closed minds, according to a study published Monday, and may indicate that in the U.S. politics holds stronger sway on this topic than religious authority."
The study, published by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, "speaks to the relative power of politics and religion in shaping climate change opinions," according to the conclusion presented in the paper. The researchers even went so far as to argue that the move "backfired" by "devaluing the Pope's credibility on climate change" among Catholics.
Pope Francis released the encyclical "Laudato si: On the Care of Our Common Home" to immediate praise among environmentalists and planners in June 2015. It's worth noting that among the outpouring of media attention granted to Pope Francis's encyclical, Ben Adler predicted that the message would likely fall on deaf ears in the United States and around the world.
FULL STORY: Penn study: Pope's plea for climate action 'backfired'
No Papal Blessing for Cap-And-Trade
Governments must take correction actions to address climate change, warned Pope Francis in his June 18 encyclical, but cap-and-trade, which places a price on carbon emissions but can lead to speculation, is not one of them.
Pope Francis Taps Planners to Help Solve Climate Change
Pope Francis's unprecedented focus on climate change and the environment includes strong messages for planners and designers of the built environment.
Gov. Jerry Brown: Committed to Fighting Climate Change
Reporting from a two-day conference in Toronto where states and provinces organized to tackle climate change in advance of a UN conference, political reporter Chris Megerian profiles Gov. Brown's climate change commitment in five articles.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Vehicle-related Deaths Drop 29% in Richmond, VA
The seventh year of the city's Vision Zero strategy also cut the number of people killed in alcohol-related crashes by half.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
Public Lands Are Safe — For Now
A proposal to sell off federally owned lands was removed from the Republican spending bill on procedural grounds.
Hundreds of New Yorkers Hospitalized Due to Extreme Heat
A brutal heat wave is causing hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses, an increasingly common threat as summers get warmer.
Opinion: Illinois Transit Bill Could Revolutionize Intercity Travel
A bill passed by the state’s General Assembly would create a permanent source of dedicated funding for intercity rail.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
Sarasota County Government
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)