College of Saint Mary affirms Pope Francis's Leadership on Climate Change
Omaha, Neb. – College of Saint Mary President Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM has joined with at least 95 other leaders in U.S. Catholic higher education in signing a Declaration of Commitment supporting Pope Francis’s message on climate change and social justice. The Pope in June released the encyclical Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home, which identified these crises as defining characteristics of our time, and a serious threat to our future.
The declaration is a promise by the signers to work together “through all the means available to and appropriate for our colleges and universities as institutions of higher learning, to study, promote and act on the ideals and vision of integral ecology laid out by Pope Francis.” The signers commit their efforts to “provide influential leadership” in addressing the emergencies of climate change and social justice.
College of Saint Mary (CSM) has long viewed the environment as an important issue and has a solid history of green-focused and sustainability programs and projects. The Sisters of Mercy identify care for the environment as one of five critical concerns which require immediate and cooperative actions to address on behalf of the poor and vulnerable. As part of its commitment, CSM conducts an annual campus-wide emissions survey; has adopted a short-term tangible actions to reduce its carbon footprint; and committed to climate (carbon) neutrality by 2050.
Some of the campus actions include removing all foam-plastic containers from campus dining facilities; adopting a Peak Usage Energy Policy; replacing water fountains with filling stations; and establishing a bike borrowing program. Sustainability has been integrated into the curriculum and made a part of the educational experience. Larger efforts include improving energy efficiencies in current buildings and building Madonna Hall using LEED Silver Standards. Those standards are now applied to all new construction at CSM.
Other higher education leaders signing the Declaration of Commitment in support of the pontiff’s leadership come from some of the nation’s top-rated Catholic universities, including the presidents of Georgetown Universtity; Marquette University; Santa Clara University; and Villanova University. The 96 U.S. Catholic higher education leaders join nearly 80 Catholic university presidents from 32 other nations in signing the statement of support.
During his visit to the U.S., Pope Francis kept the themes of social and environmental justice at the forefront of his speeches to not only the American people, but the U.S. Congress and the United Nations General Assembly.
CSM’s position is that wealth and use of resources of a small percentage of the earth’s population results in environmental degradation. This creates an overwhelming burden on those most at risk. As the climate changes whole populations will be forced into migration in order to find water, arable land and sustainable living conditions. In keeping with the Catholic social teaching principles CSM strives to speak and act on behalf of those most at risk.
