Pope Francis on Wednesday demanded urgent action against climate change and frowned at the lack of focus on the existential threat by politicians, businesses and deniers.

In a new Apostolic Exhortation, the head of the Catholic Church said global warming is one of the greatest challenges worldwide.

The Apostolic Exhortation, titled “Laudate Deum” (Praise God) was published on Wednesday.

Pope Francis writes that “the necessary transition towards clean energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and the abandonment of fossil fuels, is not progressing at the necessary speed.

“Consequently, whatever is being done risks being seen only as a ploy to distract attention.’’

The pontiff said the situation is becoming graver and the concern for humanity’s common home even greater, as he offered a clear denunciation of climate change sceptics.

“Let us finally stop the irresponsible derision that would present this issue as something purely ecological, ‘green,’ romantic – and frequently subject to ridicule by economic interests,” he said.

He said there is no lack of people who talk down the experts’ observations, adding that“ however much one may try to deny, hide, conceal or relativise them, the signs of climate change are there and are becoming ever more evident.”

The “Laudate Deum” is to be understood as an update of the much-acclaimed environmental encyclical “Laudato Si’” from 2015.

An encyclical is one of the most important teaching letters of the Catholic Church.

In “Laudato Si,” Mr Francis called for an “ecological conversion” and denounced environmental destruction, social injustice and consumerism.

(dpa/NAN)