Several years ago, under the leadership of Associate Provost Roberta Espinoza, the Office of International Programs and Partnerships (IPP) embraced the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our internationalization efforts at LMU.
By adopting the SDGs, we reaffirm our dedication to cultivating global citizens who are prepared to make meaningful contributions towards a more sustainable and equitable world. IPP and Professor Jennifer Ramos, director of global learning, facilitate bringing these goals to life in a number of ways, including through faculty curriculum development grants, co-sponsoring registered student organization grants to host SDG-related events, and supporting the SDG student ambassador program in collaboration with the LMU College of Business Administration's Institute for Business Ethics and Sustainability, led by Professor Jeff Thies.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' share a profound connection in their vision for a sustainable and equitable world. Both frameworks emphasize the need to address environmental degradation, poverty, and social inequality through an integrated approach. Laudato Si' calls for an ecological conversion that recognizes the interconnectedness of all creation, aligning closely with the SDGs' holistic agenda: people, planet and prosperity.
- People: Ensuring that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.
- Planet: Protecting the planet from degradation through sustainable consumption and production, managing natural resources, and taking urgent action on climate change.
- Prosperity: Ensuring that all people can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social, and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature
By advocating for sustainable development that leaves no one behind, both the SDGs and Laudato Si' underscore the moral imperative to care for our common home and promote justice and dignity for every person.
- Authored by Professor Jennifer Ramos, 23 February 2025