THE COMMON GOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: A DISCOURSE

“The heavens and even the highest heavens belong to the Lord, as well as the
earth and everything on it.” -Deuteronomy 10:14. This highlights the divine ownership
of the earth and all its inhabitants. This was given to us human beings as a precious gift
based from what I have read on the Seven Themes of the Catholic Social Teachings,
and as stewards, we have full responsibility to care for the environment and all living
things on it. Our planet provides us with essential resources for our survival and
sustenance which includes water for us to keep hydrated, clean air for us to breathe,
and food to ease the hunger that we are all feeling. These are just few of the many
things that our environment could offer to us human beings that will aid our very need in
order to live and be able to survive. By being a responsible inhabitant and a good
steward of the environment, we are not only ensuring the well-being of the current
generation but we are maintaining this wonderful gift today as abundant as what it is
yesterday in preparation for the future generations to come.

As we promote and aim for the common good, then it means that we are not just
preserving the environment as a personal duty for our personal consumption, but it is a
collective one targeting the betterment of all. In todays time, environmental issues are
here and there. For example, weather issues like the thinning of ozone layer that
protects the earth and all the inhabitants from the harmful ultra violet rays, climate
change, strong typhoons, and the like which made me think that the earth is currently
grieving and that our Creator is quite disappointed because we fail as a human being.
We experience all those environmental problems because of our own wrong doings by
abusing the resources that this precious gift has offered us without thinking that our life
depends on it. Let us not forget that future generations rely on us and it is necessary to
make conscientious decisions that will protect the earth’s natural beauty and resources
that the future generations will thank us for. This may include sustainable practices and
environmental conservations that are vital in safeguarding the health and longevity of
our planet.

Let us embrace our role as caretakers of the earth and work together to preserve
its beauty and vitality for generations to come. As what Pope Benedict XVI said, “The
natural environment is given by God to everyone, and its use entails a personal
responsibility towards the whole of humanity.” By honoring the divine ownership of the
earth, we can fulfill our duty to protect and cherish this invaluable gift, especially now
that we are facing different environmental problems that are all because of our doings.
To discuss further about the big issues, we are currently facing that highlights the need
for stronger focus on the common good and environmental stewardship are all
enumerated below:
 Pollution in its various forms- this is one of the most pressing environmental
issues that significantly impacts the common good and environmental
stewardship. Air pollution is caused by emissions from vehicles, industries,
agricultural practices and the like which contributes to respiratory health
problems of most people and can also create the development of climate change
that will risk the environmental health that will also affect the human beings.
Another is water pollution, which is caused by disposal of waste to the bodies of
water which includes the disposal of chemical/plastic wastes coming from most
industries that will directly harm the marine life and contaminates the aquatic
ecosystem and pollutes also the water sources. Another is the soil pollution,
which is caused by improper waste disposal, agricultural practices through the
use of pesticides, and heavy metals that directly harms the agricultural
production and risks the food safety of human beings and other living things.
Lastly, is the noise pollution which is generated by urbanization, transportation,
and industrial activities, that disrupts wildlife habitats and human well-beings.
Based from this, it shows that pollution is a serious threat to our ecosystem and
all living organisms on earth which degrades the quality of our environment and
disrupt the delicate balance of nature.

 Deforestation- is about clearing the forests for industrial and commercial

purposes without even thinking of the ecosystem being destroyed, biodiversity is
being put to risk and destroys the ecological balance. Deforestation also has
devastating impact on the society and environment itself as it may lead to affect
the livelihoods of the people and their food sources. Furthermore, it can also lead
to soil erosion, water pollution and the vulnerability to natural disasters such as
floods and landslides because of bare land due to cutting down trees that
prevents these things from happening.

 Depletion of resources- human beings and other living organisms need natural
resources in order to survive. These resources include water, minerals, fossil
fuels, and the like that are essential and are vital for sustaining life and
ecosystems. Depletion of this resources may jeopardize the well-being of current
and future generations and also undermines efforts to sustain the natural
environment, impacting not just human societies but also the delicate balance of
ecosystems. Moreover, depletion of natural resources can also lead to
environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of ecosystem that
is essential for life on earth.
 The interconnected web of problems we face today, ranging from pollution,
deforestation and depletion of resources, collectively contribute to the growing crisis of
climate change which creates profound implications on the common good and
environmental stewardship. The consequences of climate change impacts not only the
natural world but also the human beings, societies and the global economies. Climate
change results to extreme weather events just like what we have experienced with a
very high heat index which classes are being suspended, and affects some work as
people can’t withstand the high temperature that we are all facing. Another thing is the
loss of biodiversity, and disruptions to agricultural systems which are seen to be some
of the consequences that may threaten the balance of our planet and the well-being of
current and future generations.

The Catholic Social Teachings extensively address issues related to the

environment, emphasizing the importance of stewardship, care, and respect for God’s
creation and as what Pope Francis highlights in his encyclical, Laudato Si’: On the Care
for our Common Home. It was stated there that the destruction of human environment is
extremely serious, I agree that human environment is a gift even the human life and as
a human being, God entrusted the whole world to us to protect and defend in anyway
possible that is why it is important to care and defend our common home which is the
earth just like how we care, protect and defend our own life against anything. It
emphasizes the moral imperative of caring for the environment as a fundamental aspect
of social justice, advocating for sustainable development that respects both the
environment and the dignity of all individuals, especially the marginalized and the poor.

Through this, we are making the earth sustainable for our generation and for the
future generations to come. Through the Christian teachings of taking care of the earth
for longevity of the planet in order to serve more generations, everything about the
concept of environmental stewardship just come naturally to us resulting to being well-
disciplined in our actions. This may include the support initiatives that reduce waste,
promote recycling, and clean-up drive for polluted areas. Laudato Si’ calls for an
ecological conversion urging individuals and nations to adopt sustainable practices.
Church and even the community actively participate to tree planting activities or
reforestation projects in order to preserve the forests and its natural resources behind
the industrialization and modernization that we are all facing today. Conservation and
sustainable management are key factor I observed as effective in making this planet to
live long and cater many more generations.

I believe that religion and the government and community should go hand in
hand in addressing those issues. The program of the religious sectors about these
issues should be supported by the community/government, and the program of the
government about these issues should be supported also by the church and the
community in order to live with peace and harmony. As a teacher I know how important
partnership, cooperation and support are. I remember in the saying which states that,
“no man is an island” because we need someone whom we can count on for support
and encouragement. Helping hand in hand for the common good, not just for the sake
of a single individual.

The church plays a crucial role in guiding its members towards upholding
Christian values and virtues in order to promote the common good and environmental
stewardship. Below are the identified key values and virtues that can be emphasized
and strengthened in order to address the pressing environmental issues that we are
currently experiencing.

 Compassion/solidarity- having this kind of value brings a sense of

empathy and strengthens the interconnectedness of every individual as
they share the same feelings with others helping together in supporting for
the program of the church and state about creating a sustainable
environment not just for the betterment of oneself but for the common
good of present and future generations to come.
 Social justice- is about striving for fairness when it comes to the
distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, and considering the
equality of every individual as member in terms of decision-making
process.
 Stewardship- embracing the responsibility of taking care for the
environment as God’s creation and precious gift to human beings, be able
to understand that as human being, God entrusted us the earth as the
caretakers of it and being responsible for the actions being made,
ensuring that the earth’s resources are used wisely and preserved for
future generations to come.
 Temperance- is the practice of moderation in order not to overly consume
the natural resources that may lead to the depletion of resources and to
reduce the waste, in order to live more sustainably that the future
generation will thank us for preserving and caring for the natural resources
for them to use it.
 Hopeful- despite all the challenges that we may face, will turn positive if
we maintain a hopeful outlook to those things that will inspire us to take-
action and live with perseverance and determination that in every problem,
there is always a solution.

By possessing these kinds of virtues/values, this could create change that will
help address the issues that threatened the common good and environmental
stewardship. In order for you to change the world, you have to change yourself first in
order to make the world a better place, because if an individual already has the value
within him, it is easier for these positive values to radiate within a society.

Aside from the presented values and virtues above that the church should
emphasized and strengthened, for every individual, I just want to add the things that the
church needs to do more to address environmental issues more effectively.

First, the church could be an instrument to enhance and expand the education
and awareness of every individual through providing educational programs that will
educate individuals about environmental stewardship and the common good. Being
well-educated about this topic will make an individual less innocent and could help in
creating this earth abundant with resources across all generations. Next is community
engagement, I always say that as a teacher, I know how important is partnership and
cooperation because through that, we build support system in order for the other to
function well and create unity towards a common goal.

As a member of the church and the community as well, my personal actions and
response to the issues with regards to the environment, I will start the change within
myself so that I could be a good member of the church and the community towards the
goal of combating the issues that we are all facing. Of course, I will educate myself
through continuous learning so that I could also impart knowledge to my students. In
addition, I will also support for the programs and projects of the church and community
regarding the environmental stewardship like tree planting, proper waste disposal and
segregation, clean-up drive, and clean and green program. Lastly, I will also practice
sustainable living through minimizing and reducing energy and waste that may
contribute to the pollution.

In conclusion, understanding the common good and environmental stewardship

is essential for creating a more sustainable world for the benefit of all. Through this, it
gives us the knowledge of recognizing our shared responsibility for the well-being of all
living being and the planet which we can work towards building a more harmonious
society, thereby advancing the greater good of society as a whole.
References:

https://capp-usa.org/climate-change/
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-
francesco_20150524_enciclical-laudato-si.html