RESPOND TO THE CRY OF
THE EARTH

Pope Francis’ Journey Towards Integral Ecology calls university communities to educate for and witness to truly transformative actions in response to the cry of the Earth. Most university members know the importance of eliminating fossil fuel use, generating green energy, striving for zero-waste, lowering water consumption, improving water quality, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, promoting local food, and encouraging simpler lifestyles. University programs and activities should be amplified to advance each of these important objectives.

But actions in a university context must also reflect awareness of the economic, political, and social structures that give rise to environmental and social problems in the first place. To truly participate in the Journey, universities must promote critically aware actions that heal the earth in a transformative, nonviolent way.

Finally, it is important to remember that Pope Francis’ Journey is toward an integral ecology.  Along with critical awareness, Journey actions must carry forward an integral awareness; that is, a recognition that earth-healing programs and activities  have not only a public, social dimension, but also a personal, spiritual dimension. 

The limited set of outcomes and action examples given on this chart are meant to give the members of a university’s Journey committee a resource they can use to begin discerning and deciding on actions that will comprise their institution’s Laudato Si’ Action Plan. The group may find action ideas on the chart that they want to adopt; or, the process of consulting the chart may itself generate other ideas.

The chart contains sections where a university’s own action examples and ideas are solicited. If these are shared on this Pathways website, it would be a benefit to all universities exploring or participating in the Journey. Send these examples and ideas to IJEP@luc.edu.

STUDENT VOICES

Patrick Bayu Seto Nugroho
Cornelia Norlen
Scholastica Susanti
Yodan Prahardian Riyandika

Valensia Anggia Putri
Rian Hidayat
Patricia Deta Adityasari
Emilia Anggia Restiana

Sanata Dharma University
Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Action Examples Chart

OUTCOMES

CLIMATE STABILITY

Carbon Emission
Energy Use

BIODIVERSITY RECOVERY

Species Protection
Native Plants & Trees

LAND PROTECTION

Food Procurement
Waste Management

WATER SECURITY

Water Protection & Use

ACTION EXAMPLES

BEGINNING

MIDRANGE

ADVANCE

Begin measuring campus carbon footprint; promote walking, ride sharing, and public transportation to campus.

Refit or replace inefficient campus heating & cooling systems; install efficient appliances; support integral interdisciplinary research on climate and society.

Collect used campus cooking oils for on-site or off-site biodiesel production; transition campus vehicles to biodiesel 

Begin lowering and measuring energy use in campus buildings; install high-efficiency washers & dryers in residence halls; campus-wide occupancy-sensor lighting.

install solar panels & green roofs; insulate buildings; make electric-vehicle charging stations available; make priority parking for low-emissions vehicles.

Transition to clean energy suppliers; design & build all new campus structures for reduced energy consumpion; where available, buy energy credits.

Plant gardens and native species; remove invasive tree species and weeds; fertilize properly.

Compost campus grass clippings, flowers, small braches into nutrient rich soil for campus garden beds; support integral, interdisciplinary research on biodiversity and society.

Create a campus greenhouse; create campus signage that gives information on local native species.

Begin increasing the ratio of campus green space to non-green space.

Begin a reconciliation with nature: plant bee & bird friendly flowers; increase use of native plants and trees.

Make all campus green space open to the local community; install green roofs.

Begin monitoring food intake & food waste in campus cafeteria.

Plant an on-campus edible garden; practice regenerative agriculture; support integral, interdisciplinary research on the global food system.

Source all on-campus food from environmentally sustainable suppliers.

Begin measuring campus material inputs and waste output.

Does your university have action examples or ideas to add?

Establish campus recycling system; reduce use of paper, plastic, and hazardous materials.

Does your university have action examples or ideas to add?

Build a campus organic waste treatment system; build a food waste composting system.

Does your university have action examples or ideas to add?

Begin monitoring campus-wide water use; repair water leaks; where possible, collect rainwater in recycled-plastic barrels for use in watering gardens.

Install water-saving devices; plant on-campus grasses & shrubs that require less water; plant buffers along coasts and streams; use green cleaning products.

Build a campus grey-water retention system; remove impermeable surfaces; support integral, interdisciplinary research on water and society.