This exhortation reaffirms the anthropogenic—human-made—causes of recent climate change. It begins by addressing those who argue that "the planet has always alternated between periods of cooling and warming," emphasizing that they "fail to mention another relevant datum: that what we are presently experiencing is an unusual acceleration of warming, at such a speed that it will take only one generation—not centuries or millennia—to verify it" (Laudate Deum, §6).

The exhortation analyzes the root of the current climate crisis, identifying it as a technocratic paradigm that assumes human abilities and possibilities can be infinitely expanded with the help of technology (Laudate Deum, §20–21).

As a result, non-human entities are reduced to mere resources to be exploited at will. The document warns that technology-enhanced capacities have "given those with the knowledge and especially the economic resources to use them, an impressive dominance over the whole of humanity and the entire world" (Laudate Deum, §23).

The exhortation recalls the darker side of technological advancements, citing the "admirable technologies" employed to decimate populations, drop atomic bombs, and annihilate ethnic groups. It underscores that "not every increase in power represents progress for humanity" and calls for a critical reflection on how power is wielded (Laudate Deum, §24).

The exhortation further advocates for a paradigm shift, calling for the recognition that "human life cannot be understood or sustained apart from other created beings." While affirming the unique and central value of humanity within the "symphony of all created things," it asserts the necessity of embracing what it terms a "situated anthropocentrism."

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, "situate" means "to put something in a particular position," suggesting that anthropocentrism must be understood within a broader context. Anthropocentrism, often referred to as human-centeredness, is the belief that humans are the most important and central beings in the universe.

Thus, while the exhortation acknowledges "the unique and central value of humanity," it argues that such human-centeredness must be contextualized within the reality that "human life cannot be understood or sustained apart from other created beings." In other words, humanity’s central role in nature—including non-human life—is recognized, but this view is tempered by the fact that humans are inherently part of the broader natural order.

In light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Paris Agreement, this document offers profound insights and guidance for reflecting on the beliefs we should uphold and the actions we must take to address the climate crisis.

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