Pope Francis once again urged business leaders to take action to combat climate change in a historic speech before Congress on Thursday.
Echoing an encyclical released earlier this year, the pontiff called business a "noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving the world." He praised the private sector for creating jobs.
But part of servicing the common good, he said, is taking steps to reduce pollution and curb the steady warming of the planet.
"I call for a courageous and responsible effort to redirect our steps, and to avert the most serious effects of environmental deterioration caused by human activity," the pope said to roaring applause. "I am convinced we can make a difference."
Pope Francis' remarks come midway through Climate Week, an annual occasion that sees business leaders gathering in New York to discuss sustainable development goals and ways for the private sector to help combat climate change. (Despite the name, this year's Climate Week events actually run throughout the second half of September.)
This past week alone has yielded significant progress.
The number of companies imposing internal prices on carbon emissions -- a means of incentivizing firms to wean off fossil fuels -- has tripled since last year, according to a report released Sunday by the environmental data nonprofit CDP.
To boot, an unlikely coalition of corporate behemoths announced commitments on Wednesday to switch over to 100 percent renewable energy sources. Several of them vowed to make the change within the next decade.