The Common Good Requires Action On Climate Change

The world we live in, the Earth, is our common home. We should be working to protect it from harm, making sure it is not defiled by pollution or other forms of exploitation and abuse. Certainly, when talking about the common good, and the activities which we should promote as a society, taking care of the world we live in, being good stewards of the Earth, ranks among the most important, if not the most important. “Human beings too are creatures of this world, enjoying a right to life and happiness, and endowed with unique dignity. So we cannot fail to consider the effects on people’s lives of environmental deterioration, current models of development and the throwaway culture.”[1] We can no longer ignore our responsibility to the world. It is imperative that we act, promoting the interests of everyone. We certainly shouldn’t use our own personal desires get in the way of our responsibilities; they will never serve as justified reasons why we can disregard our obligations, especially those to the Earth. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philip. 2:4 RSV).