More than fifty thousand people have backed Pope Francis' call for concrete policies on climate change in order to avoid an “ecological catastrophe”. The petition, which says it's on behalf of “our children…the poor of the planet…and the whole human family,” already has 53,495 signatures praising the pope’s view. The petition urges leaders at the International Climate Change Conference to listen to Pope Francis’ call for set policies in his latest encyclical Laudato Si. Heads of State and governments will gather at the conference to discuss ecological issues such as climate change in Paris from November 30 to December 15. The petition is inspired by Pope Francis’s encyclical on the “care of our common home” specifically addressing his comments on human ecology. In his encyclical the Pope said: “There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced.” The petition asks those taking part in the conference to welcome the pope’s appeal to “avoid an ecological catastrophe” by putting concrete measures in place. He has suggested finding alternatives to fossil fuels and developing sources of renewal energy. The pope called climate change “one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day” warning that “its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades”. Despite the pope’s strong stance, critics met his comments with scepticism, with some opposing his views on global warming and climate change, calling him “misinformed”. US Presidential candidate Rick Santorum told the pope to “leave the science to the scientists,” while Jeb Bush said religion should be about “making us better as people, less about things [that] end up getting into the political realm.” The petition also reminds leaders that climate change is a “global problem with grave implications” - not just environmental, but social, economic and political”.