EARTHDAY.ORG and global youth movements celebrate the Holy See’s decision to place climate education at the heart of its official climate policy. The commitment, included in the Vatican’s NDCs under the Paris Agreement.
By Vatican News
Together with global youth movements, EARTHDAY.ORG has welcomed the Holy See’s decision to place climate education at the centre of its official climate policy. In a statement released shortly after the Vatican submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, on 16 September 2025, the organisation describes the Holy See’s “pioneering commitment to integral ecology education” as providing “powerful moral leadership and a clear message for the entire Catholic world.”
EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet.
According to the statement released by the organisation, “This moment represents the triumph for the climate education coalition and the global youth.”
Impact on Catholic schools
Highlighting the significance of the commitment that “extends far beyond the Vatican’s borders,” by prioritising climate education, the statement affirms that the Holy See’s commitment “will create a ripple effect across its vast global network of schools, universities, and parishes, encouraging the integration of integral ecology into curricula and community life for millions. “
The new commitment builds on years of advocacy. The coalition’s efforts gained international visibility during COP25 in Madrid, where EARTHDAY.ORG hosted an official press conference with the Holy See, the Governments of Italy and Mexico, and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
“The alliance forged there has since been strengthened by Pope Francis’s powerful Earth Day messages,” the press release recalled, highlighting the continuity from his landmark encyclical, Laudato si’, to the present day.
Borgo Laudato sì
Under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, the statement continues, the initiative now takes concrete form with the launch of the Borgo Laudato sì, described as “the physical heart of the Laudato si’ vision,” serving as a hub for education and practical experience in integral ecology.
“This isn’t just a policy update; it’s the institutionalisation of a shared vision,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG.
“Every step, from COP25 to the Borgo Laudato Si’, has been fueled by the passion of the millions of young people we partner with. They turned a simple request for climate education into an undeniable global mandate. This is their victory.”
Full support to the Holy See
Looking ahead, EARTHDAY.ORG confirmed that it “will continue offering its full support to the Holy See for the implementation of this groundbreaking commitment,” as part of its mission to assist governments in advancing climate education.
The organisation noted that similar commitments have been made by countries including “Argentina, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Kenya, and the United Kingdom.”
