For the first time Pope Benedict XVI. asked for climate protection and a sustainable kind of living. The occassion was a conference held in the Vatican about climate preservation: 80 scientists from more than 20 countries met in the heart of Rome. The Pope asked to not forget the poorest in the so called Third World who will suffer the most if climate change impacts will come true as predicted. He further said humans do have to respect nature.
The statement of the head of the Roman Catholic Church came also after newspapers predicted droughts for this year in Italy. Farmers are afraid of loosing their harvest. The riverbed of the river Po for instance is almost ran dry at the moment - a rare view for this time of the year.

At the moments the fountains are still running in St. Peter's Square in Rome - if the summer gets as hot as predicted water will be short in the Eternal City.