The initiative aims to protect local biodiversity, raise awareness about global conservation efforts and emphasise the role of people of faith in safeguarding the environment.

The bishops' call comes in response to Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home."

The move also aligns with the international commitment made at the 2022 United Nations conference on biological diversity, COP15, to restore 30% of land to nature.

Immense potential to impact ecosystems

With 1,365 parishes encompassing 2,646 churches across 26 dioceses on the island of Ireland, this initiative holds immense potential to significantly impact local ecosystems.

The plan has been hailed by Jane Mellett, Laudato Si' officer with the bishops' development agency, Trócaire, who told EarthBeat it was "Great to see this leadership in response to the biodiversity crisis."

Mellet said that the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Ireland has welcomed the bishops' proposal and would be happy to journey with a pilot parish.

The Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference has been at the forefront of environmental initiatives. It was the first bishops' conference globally to divest its assets from fossil fuels. This action has inspired similar commitments from bishops' conferences in Austria, Belgium, Eastern Africa, the Philippines, and Scotland.

Timeframe provides time for parishes

Bishop Martin Hayes, the coordinating bishop for Laudato Si' in the Irish church, clarified that the biodiversity and pollinators proposal is a strong recommendation, not a requirement. Parishes are encouraged to engage individuals passionate about gardening and local gardening experts to lead the implementation of the initiative.

To support the parishes, the Laudato Si' Working Group (LSWG), associated with the Irish Episcopal Conference's Council for Education, is developing resources such as The Faith Community Pollinator Plan and Gardening for Biodiversity.

The LSWG, comprising climate experts, theologians and Trócaire staff with experience in climate-affected regions worldwide, has played a vital role in advising the Irish bishops on environmental issues.

The timeframe of 2030 provides sufficient time for parishes to make a meaningful impact. Although most parishes will be starting from scratch, they hope to witness positive results within a few years.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

His upcoming environmental project is a community-based initiative which will be launched alongside a new Sussex Royal charity in September.

Harry, the Duke of Sussex, says his first target will be eliminating single-use plastics.

He joined young leaders from 26 countries at Windsor Castle on Tuesday for a course run by world-renowned anthropologist and ethologist Dr Jane Goodall.

Sharing his frustrations in a speech at Goodall's Roots & Shoots initiative, Harry decried wasteful plastic packaging in grocery stores.

"A lot more needs to be done by companies and consumers to tackle the problem," he said.

"We need to demand change. It's a dirty habit that's become normalised.

"Gone are the days when you'd just grab ten carrots, take them home and then just give them a shave.

"People are actually buying shaved carrots in a plastic bag.

"The younger generation are saying, 'This is crazy. This doesn't make any sense at all.'"

On a personal level, he said for some years he has banned all single-use plastics, including plastic bottles, straws, and wasteful packaging such as disposable coffee cup lids, from his life and home.

"Companies need to start taking responsibility for it and they need to spend the money they've made in selling all this stuff to either start clearing [it] up or, even better, stop making it and finding alternatives," he said.

"There are alternatives."

Harry was also asked at the course what peace meant to him.

It is "To be connected to the things that matter the most, rather than being disconnected," he replied.

He said he thinks a lack of human connection has created "a lack of compassion and empathy for each other" which has in turn prompted a lack of understanding about the importance of the ecosystem.

Prince Charles has has long campaigned on the subject, warning last year that the younger generation deserved a better future than the "insanity of a damaged and destroyed world".

Source

• Telegraph
• Harpers Bazaar
• Image:ABC News