Session: Elevating the Human Dimensions in Ecology Practice: Changing How Ecologists Engage Communities in our Research, Partnerships and Education
OOS 41-1 - Laudato Si Action Platform International Network: opportunities for ecology engagement with faith-based movements in seven diverse societal sectors to meet the United Nations SDG 2020 goals
Director MEEC (Marianist Environmental Education Center) h Marianist EE Center & Univ of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute Dayton, Ohio, United States
Background/Question/Methods The Laudato Si Action Platform (LSAP) https://laudatosiactionplatform.org was globally launched in 2021 as a Catholic multi-year initiative throughout its spheres of influence (sectors) to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development goals (UN-SDG) by 2030. The seven sectors are: Educational institutions (Schools, Universities), Organizations (non-profits, movements), Health Care, Parish Churches/Dioceses, Individuals, Families and Vowed Religious Congregations - who work in the other sectors. Participants enroll in the LSAP and annually plan and document actions in seven LSAP goal areas. The goals integrate Pope Francis’ integral ecology vision of the 2015 Laudato si (LS) encyclical with the UN-SDGs. Accomplishing each goal area requires ecological knowledge or integrates ecology with other fields in a societal application: Response to the Cry of the Poor (environmental justice), Response to the Cry of the Earth (restoration ecology, bio-diversity) Ecological Education (transforming curricula), Ecological Economics, Ecological Spirituality, Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles and Community Resilience and Empowerment Since Catholics are networked in many ecumenical and interfaith initiatives, the LSAP joins other UN faith-environment initiatives https://fore.yale.edu in providing ecologists engagement opportunities in education in all forms and age-levels, outreach and research partnership with faith communities to achieve carbon neutrality, conserve biodiversity and preserve ecosystem functions.
Results/Conclusions Through faith community projects and partnerships, ecologists have an opportunity to reach 84% of the global population that are religious adherents. Catholics, 17% of global population, are the largest Christian denomination. Pope Francis is inspiring social change through the LSAP, given the potential influence for justice. Catholic schools (primary, secondary and post-secondary) serve over 62.2 million students globally in xx institutions and Catholics are the largest non-governmental landholder (including monasteries and farms) estimated at over 70 million hectares. The Global Compact on Education (GCE) being promoted through Catholic institutions also has environmental care and human rights/justice dimensions that can engage ecologists such as empowerment of women and girls, addressing the concerns of the disadvantaged and building civic partnerships beyond faith-based institutions. Many religious families are choosing approaches integrating the LSAP and GCE, such as the Marianist Family Encounter Project https://marianistencounters.org. Ecologists can network internationally through the Catholic colleges and Universities global network of institutions committing to the LSAP and sharing best practices. https://universitypathways.com Saint Kateri Conservation Center https://kateri.org has opportunities for work with US religious landholdings and includes indigenous knowledge. All these are promising engagement pathways for ecologists to achieve our4DEE vision and broader role as scientists serving society.
