The archbishop of Canterbury “unequivocally” apologized for remarks made at the COP26 climate conference comparing politicians who failed to act on the threat of climate change to those who ignored the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
“It’s never right to make comparisons with the atrocities brought by the Nazis,” Justin Welby tweeted on Monday, saying he only wanted to “emphasize the gravity of the situation facing us.”
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During a BBC interview, the archbishop was asked if the effects of climate change would be worse than genocide.
“It will allow a genocide on an infinitely greater scale,” Welby replied. “I’m not sure there’s grades of genocide, but there’s width of genocide, and this will be genocide indirectly by negligence, recklessness, that will, in the end, come back to us or to our children and grandchildren.”
Welby argued if world leaders failed to act, future generations would speak of them in “far stronger terms than we speak today of … the politicians who ignored what was happening in Nazi Germany because this will kill people all around the world for generations.”
Welby went on to say history might judge today’s world leaders based on “this fortnight alone.”
I unequivocally apologise for the words I used when trying to emphasise the gravity of the situation facing us at COP26. It’s never right to make comparisons with the atrocities brought by the Nazis, and I’m sorry for the offence caused to Jews by these words. https://t.co/T0Be5rpnc1
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) November 1, 2021
“They could have been brilliant in everything else they’ve done, and they will be cursed if they don’t get this right,” he said. “They could have been rubbish at everything else they’ve done, but if they get this right, the children of today will rise up and bless them in 50 years.”
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The archbishop of Canterbury is considered the senior bishop and leading official of the Church of England. Trelby was appointed to the position in 2013 after serving as bishop of Durham for over a year.
