Pope Accuses Trump of Being a 'Flat Earther' Over Climate Change

Pope Francis has lashed out at President Trump over his refusal to sign the Paris Agreement for climate change, calling him a "flat Earther". The Vatican has claimed that Trump refused to back the climate pledge and branding global warming "a hoax" because he believes in "wild internet conspiracy theories", including those that suggest that the Earth is actually flat. The "flat Earth" theory suggests that the world we live on is actually a flat piece of rock, surrounded by a huge wall of ice, rather than a sphere as we've been led to believe by the government and NASA, who are "lying to us". With the flat Earth theories remaining at the more extreme end of the conspiracy spectrum, many believe that these ideas about our planet were created by government trolls to muddy the waters of genuine conspiracy researchers, so they can later claim that, for example, "people who believe 9/11 was an inside job also think the Earth is flat", therefore discrediting anyone who questions the official narrative. This seems to be one such example of that model, as the Vatican attempts to discredit the idea that climate change is a man-made hoax. Pope Francis has been a strong backer of the Paris Agreement and was said to be "furious" after attempts to persuade Mr. Trump to agree to the pledge failed. Catholic Church spokesmen, and head of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo said in a statement, that the United States withdrawal from the deal "would not only be a disaster but completely unscientific", adding: "Saying that we need to rely on coal and oil is like saying that the Earth is not round. It is an absurdity dictated by the need to make money." Express reports: Speaking ahead of Mr. Trump confirming his plans to leave the Paris deal, Bishop Marcelo said: "If he really does pull out, it would be a huge slap in the face for us." "It will be a disaster for everyone." He added he believed the US oil lobby was behind the decision and that the industry had "maneuvered" Mr. Trump. At their meeting last month, Pope Francis gave the US president a signed copy of his 2015 encyclical letter that called for protecting the environment from the effects of climate change and backed scientific evidence that it is caused by human activity. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin urged Mr. Trump in a separate meeting not to quit the Paris accord. The Paris deal, agreed on by nearly 200 countries in 2015, aims to cut emissions blamed for global warming. The US committed to reducing its own by 26 to 28 percent, compared with 2005 levels, by 2025. Mr. Trump has called global warming a hoax. In March, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the pope's point man for the environment, immigration, and development, urged the US president to listen to "dissenting voices" and reconsider his position on climate change. Former US President Barack Obama helped broker the Paris accord and praised it during a trip to Europe this month. Mr. Trump’s decision has provoked international outrage with French President Emmanuel Macron insisting the agreement is “irreversible”. Mr Trump has called global warming a hoax. In March, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the pope's point man for the environment, immigration, and development, urged the US president to listen to "dissenting voices" and reconsider his position on climate change. Former US President Barack Obama helped broker the Paris accord and praised it during a trip to Europe this month. Mr Trump’s decision has provoked international outrage with French President Emmanuel Macron insisting the agreement is “irreversible”. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the US will meet its greenhouse gas targets despite Mr. Trump’s decision. Mr Bloomberg, currently the United Nations special envoy for cities and climate change, said: ”The US will meet our Paris commitment and through a partnership among American cities, states, and businesses, we will seek to remain part of the Paris Agreement process. "The American government may have pulled out of the agreement, but the American people remain committed to it - and we will meet our targets. "Americans don't need Washington to meet our Paris commitment and Americans are not going to let Washington stand in the way of fulfilling it. "That's the message mayors, governors, and business leaders all across the US have been sending." The Paris accord commits countries to hold global temperature rises to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels, which will require global emissions to be cut to net zero by the second half of the century. Scientists have warned failure to curb dangerous climate change will lead to sea level rises, more intense storms and flooding, more extreme droughts, water shortages and heat waves as well as massive loss of wildlife and reduction in crop yields, potentially sparking conflict and mass migration. Read more at: http://www.theneonnettle.com/news/2240-the-pope-accuses-donald-trump-of-being-a-flat-earther-over-climate-change© Neon Nettle