Every human understands how vital health is to living a stable and fulfilling life. This fact is one of the key reasons why World Earth Day is celebrated every
e environment and mankind very seriously.
year on April 22nd. World Earth Day is not just a day dedicated to the environment but also a reminder of the direct connection between the health of our planet and the health of all living beings. It serves as a global platform to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions that contribute to the well-being of our planet. In 2025, this day carries even deeper significance, falling within a month marked by the death of Pope Francis, a figure renowned for his compassion, moral behavior, and advocacy for environmental well-being.
On April 21st, 2025, Pope Francis (originally born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) passed away at the age of 88 and it is said that his death truly marked the end of an era. Elected in 2013, he was the first pope of Latin American origin and also the first Jesuit pope. He was known mainly for his acts of humility, determination towards attending to social issues and his critiques on consumerism and environmental degradation, not minding that he was a man that took the wellbeing of th
The ‘Laudato Si’ (published in 2015) is an encyclical on environmental ethics and it delineates Pope Francis’ compelling theological and scientific call to action in favour of the environment. In Laudato Si, Pope Francis argues that climate change and pollution were signs of a very deep crisis. “The earth, our home, is beginning to look like an immense pile of filth”, he wrote, calling for a “culture of care” that integrates human wellbeing with environmental stability.
Aside from all this, most individuals and communities alike also come together to embrace the environment and encourage others to do things that would bring positive effects to their health by doing little things like turning off the taps and water appliances in homes and public places after using them, picking up litter from the ground and properly disposing it, engaging in personal hygiene and even promoting cleanliness where they go. Schools like JMC also carry out practices that benefit the ecosystem like the creation of policies that discourage the use of plastics and generally banning it in the college and the most recent is the introduction of laptops to aid learning and assessments for students so as to reduce the use of paper for printing notes and examination questions. From elementary classrooms in India and Kenya to secondary schools in Europe, North America and Africa, school administrators are embracing a growing change to better the environment in recognition of the serious threat which plastic pollution poses to humanity and the planet. Schools and other individuals that practice healthy habits carry out the vision of Pope Francis and he described this group of people as “one that honours the dignity of life and the scaredness of the earth.”
In schools, the importance of maintaining eco-friendly habits is emphasized in ‘Laudato Si’. Simple practices like reducing waste, conserving energy, and participating in environmental cleanup drives play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability. However, motivating individuals to consistently adopt these practices remains a challenge. World Earth Day is a reminder that embracing sustainable habits is not just an individual responsibility but a collective effort to create a cleaner, healthier world for everyone.
World Earth Day, this jubilee year of hope, was shaped by loss and renewal. Even with the loss of a great figure, it shouldn’t stop us from contributing to the wellbeing of our environment and ourselves as individuals. It should be seen as an opportunity to push forward, take the many impactful words of late Pope Francis to mind, and do well to make the world less of a place and more of a home. Like they say, cleanliness is next to godliness.
Atinuke Chimamanda AJAYI
Class of 2028