EARTHDAY.ORG & GLOBAL YOUTH MOVEMENTS CELEBRATE VATICAN’S HISTORIC CLIMATE EDUCATION COMMITMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 18, 2025) – EARTHDAY.ORG, together with the millions of students and young leaders it partners with, today celebrates the Holy See’s pioneering decision to place climate education at the center of its official climate policy, in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted under the Paris Agreement on the 16th of September. This moment represents the triumph for the climate education coalition and the global youth, led by EARTHDAY.ORG.

The significance of this commitment extends far beyond the Vatican’s borders. By prioritizing climate education, the Holy See provides powerful moral leadership and a clear message for the entire Catholic world. This 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.

This landmark decision builds upon years of dedicated advocacy from civil society, an effort that gained international prominence at COP25 in Madrid. At that conference, the global push for climate education was showcased during EARTHDAY.ORG‘s official press conference, which featured joint participation from 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, a tradition that began after his landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, which champions the indispensable role of education in protecting our planet.

Under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, this commitment is now made tangible with the launch of the Borgo Laudato Si’. This new educational center will serve as the physical heart of the Laudato Si’ vision, transforming the encyclical into a living, operational hub for education and practical experience in integral ecology.

“This isn’t just a policy update; it’s the institutionalization 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.”

Looking ahead, EARTHDAY.ORG will continue offering its full support to the Holy See for the implementation of this groundbreaking commitment.

This is part of the organization’s broader global mission to support governments in advancing climate education. This global trend, driven by the youth-led climate education coalition and led by EARTHDAY.ORG, has resulted in formal commitments from a growing list of nations, including Argentina, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Kenya, and the United Kingdom.

Contact: Bryce Coon, Director Education, EARTHDAY.ORG, [email protected]