Scientific perspective on environmental encyclical

The worldwide response to the encyclical “Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home” continues unabated. In his essay from 2015, Pope Francis links the topics of environmental and climate protection to questions of economic and social justice. In the book project “Laudato Si’ – Wissenschaftler antworten”, 25 researchers investigate whether the Pope’s arguments and conclusions are also tenable from a scientific perspective.

The aim of the publication is not only to scientifically evaluate the contents of and the debate raised by the encyclical but also to advance them, where possible, in a differentiated and solution-oriented way. The head of ITAS, Armin Grunwald, for example, asks in his contribution how far the responsibility of the consumer extends. The physicist and philosopher sees great similarities between the statements in the encyclical and his assessment that sustainability and environmental protection is less a private matter, but rather a matter of polity.

The contribution by Christine Rösch, head of the research area “Sustainability and environment” at ITAS, deals with the use of resources and the associated environmental impacts. She takes up Pope Francis’ appeal “to think of containing growth” before it is too late and calls for a change in social and political values. Because technological advances in resource efficiency and environmental protection are not sufficient to solve the world’s environmental problems in the long term and ensure the equitable distribution of resources for future generations. (30.01.2017)

Bibliographic data

Wolfgang George (Ed.)
Laudato Si’. Wissenschaftler antworten auf die Enzyklika von Papst Franziskus.
Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag 2017
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