October 20, 2015

On October 20, The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN gave an intervention before the Second Committee of the 70th Session of the General Assembly on Agenda Item 20, which concerns sustainable development.

In the statement, the Holy See stressed that for too long development has been understood solely in terms of economic growth and wealth accumulation and has led, in some places, to the exploitation of peoples and damage to the environment. It expressed its agreement with the Report of the Secretary General calling for a paradigm shift in development thinking, linking economic development to social and environmental development. It stressed that there is no authentic development if it does not encompass development of the human person, which involves promotion of the family, lodging, labor, land, the right to education and to spiritual freedom. Sustainable development will foster a culture of solidarity in place of one of waste and involve attention both to the poor as well as to the environment, which are both harmed through a throw-away culture.

The statement can be read in full here.