Africa's Cardinal Peter Turkson is continent's papal frontrunner
With no official campaigning or list of candidates, there is much speculation about who will succeed Pope Francis.
Here is one cardinal cited by some as a potential frontrunner.
Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson is seen as one of the Church's most influential men from Africa, where Christianity is quickly growing - and which some believe could be the birthplace of the next pope.
The 76-year-old born into a humble family of 10 children is the first clergyman from the west African country to receive a red hat, having been made cardinal in 2003 by John Paul II.
Cardinal Turkson currently serves as chancellor for two pontifical academies, that of sciences and social sciences.
Even before former pope Benedict XVI's surprise resignation in 2013, the cardinal had been considered Africa's frontrunner for papal contender - generating countless speculative headlines about the first black pope.
But he demurred in a 2010 interview: "I wouldn't want to be that first black pope."
"I think he'll have a rough time."
The possibility of Cardinal Turkson as pope reflects shifting Church demographics - from Europe, where membership is dwindling, to Africa, where Christianity is growing the fastest.
Born in the southern mining town of Nsuta-Wassa, he was the fourth of 10 children to a Methodist mother who sold vegetables and a Catholic father, a carpenter.
He was ordained in 1975 before leaving Ghana to study in Rome and New York.
In 1992, then-pope John Paul II named him the Archbishop of Cape Coast, a diocese of about 300,000 Catholics that grew under his watch.
In 2003, the pontiff promoted him to cardinal.
Poverty, witchcraft
In Ghana in 2008, Cardinal Turkson acted as mediator on a peace council following close elections that threatened to erupt into violence.
A year later he was chosen by Benedict XVI for a key role within a special assembly for Africa by the Synod of Bishops, weighing in on such topics as reconciliation, poverty, AIDS, the brain drain and witchcraft.
Pope Benedict again tapped him in 2009 as president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, charged with social justice and human rights.
As part of a reform of the Roman Curia - the government of the Holy See - Pope Francis in 2016 named Cardinal Turkson head of a newly created department, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, that merged the justice and peace council with three others.
Shepherding the economic and social issues deemed priorities to Pope Francis, including the environment, Cardinal Turkson - who speaks six languages - visited the World Economic Forum in Davos multiple times to convince business leaders of the perils of trickle-down economics.
In 2016, he was dispatched as papal special envoy to South Sudan to try to reconcile warring parties, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, he headed a task force to study the crisis' economic and social fallout.
But he resigned as prefect of the dicastery in a 2021 shakeup following an external review and rumoured internal tensions within the division, leaving no Africans among the Vatican's top posts.
Lively prayer
Although he has criticised anti-gay legislation in Uganda, he defends Catholic sexual morality and has denied that homosexuality is a human rights issue.
On the key issue in Africa of condoms, he has suggested they could be useful for monogamous couples in which one partner is HIV-positive, but also that money would be better spent on anti-retroviral drugs for those already infected.
Cardinal Turkson had to apologise in 2012 after a high-profile blunder in which he showed a scare-mongering YouTube video about the rising rate of Muslims in the world during a synod of bishops.
Regarding Africans' view of Catholicism, he has suggested that the Evangelical movement has done a better job at converting because the Church has become too cerebral, while Evangelism appeals "to the heart, with lively music, lively prayer".
"Sometimes we Africans make fun of how Europeans and Americans are such enthusiastic sports fans," Cardinal Turkson said in 2012.
"They can yell and shout and sing their hearts out at a soccer or football game, but in church even to sing a hymn seems to be such a penitential exercise."
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The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Madonna claimed Pope Leo 'cannot be denied entry' to Gaza. Is she right?
EARLIER THIS WEEK, pop icon Madonna called on Pope Leo XIV to visit Gaza 'before it's too late'. Madonna, who was raised Catholic, called on the Pope as a 'Man of God' to 'bring your light to the children'. She claimed that Leo is the 'only one of us who cannot be denied entry'. Politics Cannot affect Change. Only consciousness Can. Therefore I am Reaching out to a Man of God. Today is my Son Rocco's birthday. I feel the best gift I can give to him as a Mother - is to ask everyone to do what they can to help save the innocent children caught in the… — Madonna (@Madonna) August 11, 2025 'There is no more time,' said Madonna in her post to social media. 'Please say you will go.' 'Moral weight' Colleen Dulle is a Vatican correspondent with the Catholic media outlet America Magazine and author of 'Struck Down, Not Destroyed: Keeping the Faith as a Vatican Reporter.' She told The Journal that Madonna is 'sorely mistaken' in her claim that Pope Leo is the 'only one of us who cannot be denied entry'. 'Israel has complete control over the country's borders and would have to facilitate the pope's entry, which it is highly unlikely to do,' said Dulle. And while some religious leaders have occasionally been allowed in, such as after a recent Israeli strike on a Catholic church in Gaza , foreign heads of state have not. 'Nor have foreign journalists,' noted Dulle, 'whose travel with the pope is practically mandatory, as it is a key part of how the Vatican covers the cost of papal trips.' However, the new pope has yet to venture outside Italy since becoming pontiff and Dulle said it would 'certainly be a powerful gesture for the pope to enter Gaza, or even to publicly demand entry'. She also noted that there are precedents of popes not being able to enter conflict zones due to security concerns, such as when Pope John Paul II was prevened from visiting Iraq in 2000 due to an air exclusion zone over part of the country . However, Pope Francis did visit an active war zone in 2015 when he visited the Central African Republic. Pope Francis visits the Central African Republic in 2015 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo In a show of solidarity, he visited a mosque that had been under siege from armed Christian militias in the capital Bangui and delivered a message of peace and reconciliation. 'Although some positive steps were made, including free and fair elections at the end of that year, the conflict has continued to this day,' said Dulle. Meanwhile, Dulle remarked that she is 'struck that at a time of crisis, when people feel powerless to stop the violence and starvation, they still see the pope as someone with the moral weight to make it stop'. While Pope Leo may not be able to stop the conflict, such a visit would cement the Vatican's increasing role as a diplomatic power. Ukraine In February, it seemed as though the relationship between the US and Ukraine was broken beyond repair after Donald Trump berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House. But around two months later, St Peter's Basilica became the location of an impromptu peace summit between Trump and Zelenskyy, minutes prior to the late Pope Francis's funeral. Trump and Zelenskyy meeting inside St Peter's Basilica. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office Ukrainian Presidential Press Office Trump would even go on to suggest the Vatican as a location for a meeting between Zelenskyy and Russian president Vladimir Putin, something Pope Leo said he was willing to facilitate. Relations between the Vatican and Israel However, a trip to Gaza would be sure to irk Israel, a state which has long been at odds with the Catholic Church. In 1987, Pope John Paul II met with Yasser Arafat, who was then the chair of the Palestine Liberation Organisation – he met with Arafat on 10 occasions in total. During a visit to Bethlehem in 1999, Pope John Paul II, in the presence of Arafat who was by now president of Palestine, reaffirmed what he said was the Palestinians' 'natural right to a homeland.' Advertisement Pope John Paul II, left, greets Yasser Arafat at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo on 2 September 1995. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Then during Pope Benedict's papacy, a 2010 gathering of Bishops called for the 'end to the occupation of different Arab territories'. Israel's then-Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon claimed that this gathering of Bishops had been 'hijacked by an anti-Israel majority'. Benedict went on to endorse a move by the Vatican to recognise the State of Palestine. It was Pope Francis who then formally recognised the State of Palestine and signed an accord between the Church and Palestine in 2015 , something which angered Israel. Pope Francis meets Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas during an audience three days before the Vatican announced that it was preparing to sign its first treaty with Palestine. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Israel described it as a 'hasty step' that 'damages the prospects for advancing a peace agreement'. Israel also claimed the accord was 'one-sided' and 'ignored the historic rights of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel and to the places holy to Judaism in Jerusalem'. The Vatican accord supported a State of Palestine that included all of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as East Jerusalem. Israel also warned that the accord could have 'implications for future cooperation between Israel and the Vatican'. Pope Francis's visit to the Holy Lands The year before the Church recognised Palestine, Francis visited Israel and the West Bank and angered Israel by making an unscheduled stop to pray before the Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem, surrounded by a group of young Palestinians. In his memoir, Hope, Francis said the unplanned stop 'caused a few security worries'. Pope Francis made a surprise stop at the Israeli separation wall on 25 May 25, 2014. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The following day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested that Francis make another unscheduled stop at a memorial to Israeli victims of terrorism. This was seen as an attempt by Netanyahu to appease people who were angered with Francis's stop at the separation wall. Netanyahu posted to social media after the visit: 'I explained to the pope that building the security fence prevented many more victims that Palestinian terror planned to harm.' Holy Family Church Meanwhile, Francis revealed in January of this year that he had been in daily contact with the only Catholic parish in Gaza since 9 October, 2023, two days after the bombings began in the region. He continued these calls to the Holy Family Church despite his lengthy hospitalisation prior to his death in April. Pope Francis calling the Holy Family Church in Gaza in January Vatican News Vatican News Last month, an Israeli strike on the church killed three people in the parish Francis called daily. Israel claimed that the strike on the complex, sheltering around 600 displaced persons of different faiths, the majority of whom are children and 54 of whom have additional needs, was a 'mistake'. However, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Catholic official in the Middle East, publicly disputed this and said that 'they hit the church directly'. He noted that Catholic churches had been struck at other points during the war and that the explanation 'every time' is that it was a 'mistake'. Image of the damaged Holy Family Catholic church in Gaza Pizzaballa, who was a front-runner to become pope, added that Israel's actions in Gaza are 'unacceptable and morally unjustifiable'. He made a four-day visit to Gaza following the attack on the Holy Family Church and arrived with 500 tonnes of aid. However, he later said 'not a gram' had been able to enter the region. Pope Leo spoke on the phone to Netanyahu following this strike and expressed concern about the 'tragic humanitarian situation for the population of Gaza, whose children, elderly and sick are paying an agonising price'. Meanwhile, Francis went so far as to label some of Israel's actions in Gaza as 'terrorism'. Related Reads Will more countries recognising Palestine make any real difference? Opinion: Defending the rights of Palestinians does not mean turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism In his memoir, Francis described the Hamas massacres of 7 October, 2023 as 'diabolical and brutal'. He then went on to recount the deaths of Nadha Khalil Anton and her daughter, Samar Kamal, who were killed by gunfire from an Israeli army sniper as they approached the convent of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. 'Others too were killed in cold blood in the parish precincts,' said Francis. 'This too is terrorism.' Elsewhere, some people felt that Francis expressed support for Palestine by praying before a nativity scene last December which included a wooden figurine of the baby Jesus swaddled in a keffiyeh. Pope Francis prays in front of Nativity Scene crafted in the West Bank city of Bethlehem in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The keffiyeh, a headdress worn in the Middle-East, is worn by many as a symbol of support for Palestine. Palestinian artisans created last year's 'Nativity of Bethlehem' which was displayed in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. Representatives from the Embassy of the State of Palestine were present for its inauguration on 7 December, as were those who created the Nativity. As is customary, the figurine of Jesus was then removed from the Nativity scene until Christmas Eve. However, when the public was next able to view the Nativity scene in the Paul VI Hall on 4 January, the keffiyeh had been removed. 'Friend of Palestinian people' When Francis died in April, Israel was notable in its muted response. The Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammad Mustafa, attended Francis's funeral and described the late pontiff as a 'friend of the Palestinian people'. 'Pope Francis shared in the sufferings of the Palestinian people and always supported their right to self-determination,' said Mustafa. Israel however sent a low-level ambassador to Francis's funeral and it took four days for Netanyahu's office to send a two-sentence message of condolence. It read: 'The State of Israel expresses its deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and the Catholic community worldwide at the passing of Pope Francis. May he rest in peace.' Prior to his death, Francis gave his blessing for the popemobile he used on his 2014 visit to the West Bank to be converted into a mobile health clinic for children in Gaza. Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives to give Mass in the West Bank on 25 May, 2014 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Yes, it's a beautiful idea, go for it,' said Francis when the initiative was brought to him for approval. However, the vehicle has not yet been granted entry into Gaza. Security concerns A trip to Gaza for Pope Leo would likely come with a heightened security risk. However, this was not something that deterred his predecessor. Francis had said he was 'determined' to visit Iraq in 2021 and to 'meet those people who have suffered so much'. 'Almost everyone advised me against the journey,' said Francis. Pope Francis on 7 March, 2021 near the ruins of four churches damaged during Iraq's war against ISIS. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The day before he flew to Iraq in 2021, British security services informed the Vatican of two assassination plots – one involved a female suicide bomber, the other a truck full of explosives. The journey went ahead regardless and Francis said he was informed later by Iraqi police that the two 'bomb attackers' had been 'intercepted and exploded'. 'This shocked me deeply,' wrote Francis. 'This too was the poisoned fruit of war.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, August 16th: In defence of the Angelus, SUVs, and worshipping Oasis
Sir, – I'd nearly agree with William Burke (Letters, August 14th) about the Angelus. In the multi-faith, no-faith Ireland of 2025, it would seem to be well past its sell-by date, the product of another age. A little historical context around when it was adopted by Radio Éireann may be illuminating. The year 1950 was a Roman Catholic-designated holy year, with the usual outpourings of piety. Cardinal József Mindszenty had been imprisoned in Hungary. The Korean War was in full swing and the possibility of nuclear exchanges was not discounted. A godless communism was sensed to be rampant and almost unstoppable. In Ireland, the advance of Marxism was to be countered by ostentatious popular Catholic devotion – the 1940s and 1950s saw a whole range of activities aimed at the conversion of Russia. The Pax Christi crusade of prayer was one of the most prominent – there were special devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady of Fatima – and always the ubiquitous rosary crusades. All this had led to the secretary of the then department of posts and telegraphs, during the late 1940s, discussing the idea of a daily broadcast spoken Angelus with the Catholic archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid. Charles Kelly, the director of Radio Éireann, was also consulted, but was not in favour of this proposal. READ MORE However, after further discussion they concluded that 'the introduction of speech would be a mistake and we should experiment further simply with a bell'. Archbishop McQuaid suggested that it would be appropriate to commence on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15th, 1950. And so it was done. We have had it ever since; indeed, it has expanded to include a sound and visual version on RTÉ television. While most of us probably like the comfort of some long-run familiarity in our lives (and, born in 1950, the Angelus has always been with me), on the surface it does seem out of place in Ireland 2025. But to this Anglican it is not offensive or in your face – given the florid and triumphalist nature of mid-century Irish Catholicism, the surprise is perhaps that the stark simplicity of the bell is almost Buddhist in its economy and spareness. It can mean what you want it to mean. Similarly, the television version has long moved away from a limited and limiting reference to Catholicism; many of the visuals now celebrate secular activities such as gardening and watchmaking. That gives it a contemporary relevance that is not tied to any narrow Christian denomination – or indeed to religious belief at all. It's only a couple of minutes each day. And no-one is obliged to listen to, or watch, it. Let it be. – Yours, etc, IAN D'ALTON, Naas, Co Kildare. Sir, – I found William Burke's letter suggesting the removal of the Angelus from our air waves to be sad and offensive. What a joy it is to have a minute of quiet reflection to the sound of the Angelus bells. The sound of Angelus bells from our churches also encourages us to take a few thoughtful quiet moments in this busy world. Surely this has to be worthwhile? We should defend our Angelus as it continues to be a wonderful part of our lives today. – Yours, etc, PAUL GETHINGS, Dublin. Sir, – I am writing in response to William Burke's letter where he argues that RTÉ should discontinue its broadcasts of the Angelus. I must say I don't agree. Yes, the broadcast of the Angelus has it origins in what was then (75 years ago) in effect a Roman Catholic confessional state. But no, it should not be done away with. It provides a short time for contemplation and reflection whether one is religious or not and is part of our Irish heritage. What's next – the abolition of Easter and Christmas? – Yours, etc, KP SMYTH, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Sir, – In these unsettling times if people of all religions and none could just pause and reflect for a minute every day there might be more tolerance, understanding and less vitriol in the world. This will not solve the problems of the world, but would surely calm everybody down a bit. The prompt from RTÉ at 6pm works for me. – Yours, etc, PATRICK HOWLIN, Milltown, Dublin 14. Making a holy show Sir, – I enjoy Emer McLysaght's column. I read it regularly. Reading it today: Well, it read like an account of someone who might have been witness to a sacramental event – the appearance of St Bernadette at the Grotto at Massabielle, France, 1858 (' I'm going to Oasis both nights, tissues at the ready ,' August 12th). Or more recently, Kerry's 39th All-Ireland accomplishment. Regarding the pending Oasis concert: 'I can hardly believe that this weekend, it's happening. So, I bought two more (T-shirts) in something of a panic.' 'You'll find me (crying) in a puddle on the floor', etc, and so on. It surprises and disappoints me that anyone would have this exhausting and hysterical degree of veneration, for an entertainment that is as fleeting and, may I say, unsubstantial as pop music – Taylor Swift is one more example. Of mediocrity. Yes, Really. Can someone please tell me: what is a superstar? I have no idea. – Yours, etc, PADDY FITZPATRICK, Shandon, Cork. School holidays Sir, – It isn't the duration of school holidays that puzzles me, but the breakdown. Why do we have a short holiday in winter and a long holiday in summer? If three weeks were taken off the summer holidays and added to the winter holiday the amount of money spent on heating and lighting would decrease hugely, freeing up funds which could then be spent on more worthwhile educational endeavours. – Yours, etc, JOHN DOYLE, Cork. Gaza offensive conclusions Sir, – It is almost impossible to escape the conclusion that from the beginning of its Gaza offensive Israel's objective was not just defensive, but clearly an exercise in ethnic cleansing. This would be achieved through a three-pronged approach; a large scale and indiscriminate military operation, a blockade of food and medical supplies. and the destruction of the Gaza medical infrastructure. This strategy was implemented under the cover of seeking to eliminate Hamas, whom we were told populated a complex tunnel system, thus requiring a carpet aerial campaign of destruction. In addition, we were informed that every medical facility in Gaza housed terrorists and had to be destroyed, while Hamas was supposed to be stealing all the humanitarian aid so this was withheld and the only agency capable of distributing it was banned from doing so. That is the picture before our eyes and until the international community comes to terms with it, calls it out for what it is and puts a stop to it, this Israeli government will not change its ways. It will kill, starve and oppress until there are no more Palestinians in Gaza. – Yours, etc, LIAM MEADE, Ballyneety, Co Limerick. Policing the traffic police Sir, – The recent report on the Garda road traffic division states that some members are unproductive and disinterested in their job. Surely, they should be accountable for not doing the work they are being paid to do and not wasting taxpayers' money? I travel the M50 on a regular basis and rarely do I see one of the Garda traffic division cars. I have experienced some hairy moments with cars speeding by or overtaking erratically. Why can't we have a road traffic force that is visible. It might lead to less careless driving and maybe save lives? – Yours, etc, BARRY ROONEY, Co Wicklow. Sir, – I was going to write a letter to The Irish Times asking why so many truck drivers on our motorways don't bother putting number plates on their trailers. Now I no longer need to. – Yours, etc, HUGH GALLAGHER, Naas, Co Kildare. In praise of SUVs Sir, – While a few correspondents have made points in defence of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), nonetheless much of what has appeared recently on the Letters page would suggest that, regarding how cars drive, it's simply 'two wheels good, four wheels bad'. This is unfair, incorrect and in some cases dangerously inaccurate in the impression it conveys. It's probably fair to say initially that I drive one, largely I would argue for the reasons to do with the safety of others. This may reflect aspects of my occupation, but is surely not unique. As a doctor on call from home for various categories of emergency, being able to get in, whatever the conditions is important. For example, as hurricane Ophelia was hitting some years ago, I was called to deal with a rare and often fatal emergency called an aortic dissection. The patient recovered fully. During the 'Beast from the East' storm I drove to work picking up two colleagues en route and dropping them home afterward. The operating lists were full of people with wrist and leg fractures from falls on the snow, inevitably. Staff had to get in to deal with this. Living on a hill with a 5-10 per cent gradient and no street lights is not ideal and needing to get to work at all hours in all weathers is the simple reason I use such a vehicle. Its hybrid engine is pretty fuel efficient and road tax therefore quite low. It's a pretty unspectacular car and frankly I'd rather drive the type of sports car that might make me still seem young enough to still have a midlife crisis. But covering dark slippy roads as quickly as possible a few nights a year is a matter of serious importance to me, and many others. One might ask, to illustrate, how are the people who grit the roads supposed to get to work? I aim to minimise the degree to which I risk my safety, even if travelling during red weather warnings. The impression given that this is a particular danger to other road users is not correct. As per, for example, the Euro NCAP safety tests, the car I drive scores 70 for pedestrian safety in a crash. This is not the safest for an SUV but exceeds the measures for many perfectly ordinary cars, and is the same as a VW Polo, for example. Most cars crashes don't involve pedestrians, of course. All involve at least one vehicle and all we can control is the choice of vehicle we are in. One correspondent noted that the weight distribution pattern of SUVs is a particular risk, imparting an '11-times increased risk of rolling over in an incident' (Letters, August 11th). That may be true but one can easily search online to see what vehicles are most associated with road fatalities. It is not a list of SUVs. Not surprisingly, high performance cars tend to feature highly. The other benefits – for older people with hip or back pain, for mothers lifting buggies and car seats and so on – can also be meaningful. But for safe travel in extreme conditions, as unglamorous as they are, SUVs can be seen as life-savers. – Yours, etc, BRIAN O'BRIEN, Co Cork. Presidential elections timing Sir, –I would like to propose a practical scheduling idea for the forthcoming presidential election. Under Article 12(3) of the Constitution, the presidential election must be held no later than the date the current President's term ends, and no more than 60 days before that date. For the current term, this means the election must take place between September 12th and November 11th, 2025. In recent years, primary schools have been closed to accommodate voting: in 2023 for the local and European elections, and in 2024 for the general election. Given that we now know well in advance the precise constitutional window for the presidential election, I suggest that it be scheduled during the schools' mid-term/Halloween break – from October 27th -31st. This would minimise disruption to students, parents, and teachers, while still falling squarely within the constitutional timeframe. – Yours, etc, RICHARD JOYCE, Monkstown, Co Dublin. Sir, – Michael O'Leary for president – no baggage. – Yours, etc, PATRICK DOYLE, Rathvilly, Co Carlow . Sir, – The suggestion from Sadbh Ní Seachnasaigh that you give Michael O'Leary his own column is an excellent idea. You could call it 'Man bites everything'. – Yours, etc, GERRY SAVAGE, Co Galway. Is this a record? Sir, – Even as I recounted Pat O'Brien's lively take on the supermarket mouse (Letters, August 14th) to my neighbour over a cup of tea, we were both startled to observe an animated member of the same species canter casually across my kitchen floor. Almost immediately, my quick-thinking friend flung open the adjacent back door and the tiny creature speedily reduced the rising room temperature by cooperatively exiting the premises. His means of ingress is still under investigation. While the coincidental nature of this experience is certainly remarkable, I'm left wondering if my friend's rapid reaction to a minor crises could be termed a record response? – Yours, etc, KIERAN FLYNN, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Sir, –It's very appropriate that the Letters page of Ireland's paper of record should record so many records. – Yours, etc, CIANA CAMPBELL, Ennis, Co Clare. Break time Sir, – It's holiday time, give yourself a break. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and visualise what the world would be like without Netanyahu, Putin and Trump. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL DUKE, Carlow.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
New compromise but no deal at plastic pollution talk
Countries trying to break the deadlock and strike a landmark global treaty on combating plastic pollution negotiated through the night on a last-minute revised proposal. The new draft, issued by the talks chair after the original deadline passed, contains more than 100 unresolved passages of text - but constitutes an "acceptable basis for negotiation", two sources from different governments said. However, several environmental NGOs said the new text still did not go far enough to protect human health and the environment. After three years of negotiations, nations wanting bold action to turn the tide on plastic rubbish were trying to build last-minute bridges with a group driven by oil-producing states. Talks chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso issued his revised draft text after countries from all corners shredded his previous version issued Wednesday, plunging the talks into disarray. The Ecuadoran diplomat spent in frantic negotiation with multiple regional groups, resulting in a new text that went some way towards appeasing both major blocs. The High Ambition Coalition, which includes the European Union, Britain and Canada, and many African and Latin American countries, wants to see language on reducing plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals used in plastics. A cluster of mostly oil-producing states calling themselves the Like-Minded Group - including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia - want the treaty to focus primarily on waste management. The new text "is far from what is needed to end plastic pollution," however, "it can be the springboard to get there, if we sharpen it in a next round", Panama's negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey said. A diplomatic source from another country told AFP it was an "acceptable basis for negotiation". In search of 'middle ground' A total of 185 countries have been negotiating since 5 August at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. Five previous rounds of talks over three years failed to land a treaty. One country's chief negotiator said the new draft felt like a "more balanced text - not too bad but not too good either". "At least it feels like the chair is listening. But many of us are asking what's going to be the next steps," they said. As for whether there was much movement from the Like-Minded Group, the negotiator said: "Nothing. It's the same ... I'm not so sure if there's momentum." The plastic pollution problem is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks, in the deepest ocean trench and scattered throughout almost every part of the human body. On current trends, annual production of fossil-fuel-based plastics will nearly triple by 2060 to 1.2 billion tonnes, while waste will exceed one billion tonnes, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. With 15 million tonnes of plastic dumped in the ocean every minute, French President Emmanuel Macron asked: "What are we waiting for to act?" "I urge all states gathered in Geneva to adopt an agreement that truly meets the scale of this environmental and public health emergency," he posted on X. "We need to have a coherent global treaty. We can't do it on our own," said Environment Minister Deborah Barasa of Kenya, a member of the High Ambition Coalition seeking aggressive action on plastic waste. Ms Barasa said that nations could strike a treaty now, then work out some of the finer details down the line. "We need to come to a middle ground," she said. IPEN, a global network aimed at limiting toxic chemicals, said the level of ambition in the new draft text "cannot become the new normal for these negotiations". And the World Wide Fund for Nature said: "Efforts to pull together a treaty that all parties will accept has amounted to a text so compromised, so inconsequential, it cannot hope to tackle the crisis in any meaningful way."
