Why the papal encyclical matters

Just before the papal encyclical on the environment was released, the hype in environmental circles matched that for Taylor Swift’s latest music video. (To be clear: “Bad Blood” deserves the hype.) Who will Laudato Si’ affect the most? What will its rationale be? What sort of reception will it get? Most importantly: will it matter?

With international climate talks again looming and considerable activist pressure on President Obama, the pope’s timing couldn’t be better. While some may dismiss his office as more pomp than power, Francis has been throwing his weight around where he can—and for good. 

The moral imperative of climate change is real. The encyclical makes this clear, bringing the conversation out of academic and religious circles. The world is hungry for some righteous anger about climate change, because right now all America has is vague dread about graphs. When we do hear any sort of moral injunction, it tends to be about our moral duty to unknown others a hemisphere away.