Business-Ecology Lexicon: selected phrases adapted from

Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home

Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home - the second Encyclical of Pope Francis - was published in June 2015 after months of research and consultation with teams of scientists, theologians, and writers. "Laudato Si" is translated "Praise to Thee." Pope Francis' invitation to dialogue is addressed to "every person living on this planet."

Chapter V: Lines of Approach and Action A global consensus is needed for:

▪ sustainable and diversi;ied agriculture
▪ renewable and less polluting forms of energy
▪ better management of marine and forest resources  ▪ universal access to drinking water
▪ concern for the vulnerable and excluded

shared goal for humanity: reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to reverse the trend of global warming

common problem: mindsets which stand in the way of making radical decisions to reverse the trend of global warming

culture of consumerism which prioritizes short-term gain and private interest and makes it easy to conceal information

We need to reject a magical conception of the market -- that says problems can be solved simply by an increase in the proAits of companies or individuals.

Individuals and groups can: instill a greater sense of responsibility; a strong sense of community, a spirit of creativity, a deep love for the land; and a concern about what we'll eventually leave to our children and grandchildren.

Agriculture can be improved in poorer regions through: better systems of irrigation; development of techniques of sustainable agriculture; preserving local ecosystems; rotating crops; building soil.

A healthy politics is sorely needed, capable of reforming and coordinating institutions, promoting best practices, and overcoming inertia.

True statecraft is when we uphold high principles and think of the long-term common good.

We need a genuine and profound humanism as the basis of a noble and generous society.

Environmental impact assessment should be part of development processes from the beginning; water is a scarce and indispensable resource and a fundamental right.

In view of the common good, there is urgent need for politics and economics to enter into a frank dialogue in the service of life, especially human life.

The real economy makes diversiAication and improvement in production possible, and enables small and medium businesses to create employment.

The environment is a good that cannot be adequately safeguarded by market forces.

A decrease in the pace of production and consumption can give rise to other forms of progress and development.

Efforts to promote a sustainable use of natural resources are an investment in other economic beneAits.

We need to envision more diversi;ied and innovative forms of production with less impact on the environment.

Productive diversi;ication offers the fullest possibilities to create and innovate, while protecting the environment and creating more sources of employment.

We know how unsustainable it is to consume and destroy, while others are not yet able to live in a way worthy of their human dignity.

The mindset without sincere concern for the environment is the same mindset which lacks concern for including the most vulnerable.

The time has come to accept decreased growth in some parts of the world, in order to provide resources for other places to experience healthy growth.

The gravity of the ecological crisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarking on a path of dialogue which demands patience, self-discipline, and generosity.

Additional business and ecology sources:

Wallace Broecker: "Climatic Change: Are We On the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?" (1975) paper in Science Magazine; Columbia University Earth Institute

Hope Jahren: The Story of More: How we got to climate change and where to go from here (2020) illuminates the link between human habits and our imperiled planet

Lynn Stout: "The Shareholder Value Myth" (2012) - the mistaken assumption that maximizing shareholder value is a corporation's core purpose - accepted widely in the 1980s - has caused ills facing American society

Douglas Tallamy: "Nature's Best Hope" (2020) - fundamentals of ecosystem services