Society launches Seven Year Plan for the Environment at Windsor Castle

The Jesuits have launched their Seven Year Plan for the Environment at a ceremony in Windsor Castle, hosted by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.  In the Plan, Jesuit Conferences, provinces, works, communities and individuals are encouraged to fulfil the mandate of the 35th General Congregation to 'move beyond doubts and indifference and take responsibility for our home, the earth.'

The Jesuits' Seven Year Plan was one of hundreds presented to Prince Philip and His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, by different faiths, denominations and religious orders.  The aim of the Windsor Celebration - entitled Many Heavens, One Earth - was to launch and discuss their long term initiatives to Protect the Living Planet.  The Celebration - a Summit of Religious and Secular leaders - was taking place a month before the Copenhagen Climate Change talks in December.

The topics addressed by the Jesuit Plan range from giving priority to days of prayer, retreats and liturgies around the themes of Sustainability and Ecology to carrying out energy audits on communities and other works.  There are further commitments to ensure that institutions such as schools, universities and retreat centres are environmentally friendly, as well as incorporating care for the environment fully into the curriculum of Jesuits colleges.

The Duke of Edinburgh and UN Secretary General were presented with the Seven Year Plan of the Society of Jesus by Father Michael Holman SJ, the British Jesuit Provincial.


 The Seven Year Plan of the Society of Jesus

 The Windsor Celebration