by Ted Arroyo, S.J.

Since JSRI’s founding in 2007, our mission has focused on research, education, and advocacy in the three social justice-related areas of poverty, migration, and racism, especially in the Gulf South region of the United States.

As Jesuits continue our ongoing international mission planning, in the past 25 years three Jesuit General Congregations (34, 35 and 36) have shown a heightened concern about environmental issues and our mission. Citing Pope Francis, the most recent of these general congregations (GC36) calls us to integrate a mission of “reconciliation with creation” as “Companions in a Mission of Reconciliation and Justice,” relating ecological issues as they impact the poor. Especially relevant for JSRI’s mission is the mandate that “experts should contribute to the rigorous analysis of the roots of and solutions to the (environmental) crisis.” 

We gather together and annotate here some Jesuit resources for your use in moving along research, education, and advocacy concerning reconciliation with creation.

1. Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si follows Catholic social thought’s basic pattern of see, judge, and act in treating environmental issues.
2. The International Jesuit Ecology Project provides an excellent online textbook, Healing Earth, with chapters on topics of biodiversity, natural resources, energy, water, food, and global climate change by over 30 international scholars.
3. Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Environmental Sustainabilitysponsors annual conferences whose papers and presentations are available on its website. 
4. Georgetown University’s Climate Center seeks to advance effective climate and energy policies in the United States and serves as a resource to state and local communities that are working to cut carbon pollution and prepare for climate change. Its website provides a State Energy Analysis Tool and an Adaptation Clearing House to help communities adapt to climate change. Its Environmental Law Policy Program provides expertise in fields of environment, natural resources, land use, energy, and food law.
5. The Ignatian Solidarity Network provides multiple resources for prayer, analysis, and action in response to Laudato Si.  

In addition to these Jesuit-sponsored resources, here are some online resources to check on how your local area measures up on various environmental indicators:

1. The Carbon Disclosure Project provides resources for investors, companies, and cities to build sustainable economies by measuring and understanding their environmental impact. Its Open Data Portalanalyzes data from 533 cities showing the emerging case for collaborative climate action between and among cities, regions, businesses, and investors.
2. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Screen provides information on demographics (e.g., poverty) and environmental exposures (e.g., lead in housing) organized by zip codes. See also the EPA carbon footprint calculator.
3. Global Footprint Network offers your own calculator to discover your personal ecological footprint.
4. Earth Overshoot Day provides background research and concrete steps (e.g., recipes, bicycle-riding, reducing food waste, etc.) to move back the projected date when humanity’s resource consumption will exceed the earth’s capacity to regenerate those resources that year.
5. The Southern Environmental Law Center combines region-wide perspective and strategy with local presence and place-based action on environmental issues.

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