This Climate One podcast is sponsored by General Motors.

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Climate One at the Commonwealth Club is at the forefront of the global debate about energy, economy, and the environment.

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Climate One is the place where big ideas get heard.

With thoughtful and insightful discussions on policy, business, science, and culture, Climate One founder Greg Dalton gets to the heart of the matter.

It's our future. It's time to come together.

I'm Greg Dalton, and today on Climate One, we're talking about Pope Francis, who will bring

his climate crusade to the United States in a few days.

The popular pontiff will be the first Pope ever to address a joint session of Congress, and

only the third to visit the White House, where he will enjoy a private audience with President

Obama. Early this year, Pope Francis issued an encyclical on climate change and inequality

that caused quite a stir across the country.

His message takes aim at our culture of consumerism and the devaluing of nature.

He calls for the world to move away from coal and oil without delay.

Pope Francis also takes a swing at

unfettered capitalism and technology as root causes of an ecological and moral crisis.

He doesn't mince words this pope. Politicians were swift to push back. Rick Santorum said the

church should leave science to the scientists. Jed Bush said, quote, I don't get economic

advice from my bishops or my cardinal or my pope, end quote. Over the next hour, we will talk about

Pope Francis, the morality of fossil fuels, the importance of what he calls little daily actions

and the national politics of reducing carbon pollution that is amplifying,

...