The United Nations General Assembly has declared June 17 as World Day to Combat Desertification. Increasing desertification is taking place in many countries, especially in Africa. This year’s World Day theme is drought and water scarcity. We thank those who have contributed to Development and Peace which has supported projects in the Sahel region of Africa that help communities recover from drought and pave the way for ongoing development.

World Environment Day 2013
 
On World Environment Day on June 5, 2013, Pope Francis spoke to 70,000 pilgrims at St. Peter's Square.
 
His Holiness reinforced the theme of the relationship of human ecology and environmental ecology - also expressed as one of the themes in the recent document of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Building a New Culture:  Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment.
 
As Pope Francis said, “We are called not only to respect the natural environment, but also to show respect for, and solidarity with, all the members of our human family,”
 
A report on Pope Francis’ presentation may be found here.

Building a New Culture: Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment

The Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has released a pastoral letter, Building a New Culture:  Central Themes in Recent Church Teaching on the Environment. The document offers an outline of eight central themes found in Church teaching on the environment and is designed to serve as a guide for discussion, reflection, and decision-making on the very real environmental problems we face today. Full information, including brief texts designed for publication in parish bulletins, is available on the CCCB website.