Pope Francis Neglecting World’s Poor

Pope Francis has been saying that the world's elite has very less idea about what is the biggest problem of the world's poor. He might be right, but the same observation at some point applies to him as well.

Pope Francis, in his recent visit to the United States, is invoking the need to protect the vulnerable in the world called for an end to humanity's reliance on fossil fuels. The statement came after his declaration in June that global warming is one of the pre-eminent problems facing the poor.

But now, the question is: do the world's poor believe that carbon cuts are the top priority? Since March 2013, the United Nations has sought citizens' ranking of 16 policy priorities. More than eight million people have participated, with nearly three million living in the least developed nations.

Education followed by a better health care, better job opportunities, an honest and responsive government and affordable, nutritious food are the top priority for the world's most disadvantaged.

Poorly educated women from low-income countries are among the most vulnerable people on earth, with the weakest voice in global discussions. In many countries, top priorities revolve around health, education and jobs.

Carbon campaigners are right that climate change could reduce agricultural yields. But helping directly with more research, better crop varieties, more fertilizers and less biofuels will cost much less and will improve the situation faster.

People who say world's top priority is climate change must be wrong because the world has clearly said that it is the least important of the 16 priorities the UN focuses on.