Learning how to live sustainably

In his encyclical Laudato si', Pope Francis addresses every living person and opens an urgent dialogue about how we can shape the future of our planet and live in a way that cares for this, our common home. As the world faces an environmental crisis which will disproportionately affect the poor and marginalised, a big part of the solution has to be education. The Université Catholique de Lille (UCL) has vowed to answer the call through a major strategic programme of energy and societal transition.

From 2014, the university began implementing a universal programme towards a zero-carbon campus combined with the ambition of helping all students cultivate 'ecological virtues'. The hope is that UCL's alumni leave as citizens of tomorrow, endowed with an understanding of the challenges we face and a way of living that promotes sharing of resources, a drive for energy efficiency and a desire for communion with others.

This innovative approach invites experimentation and participation, looking for new ways to engage students, employees and visitors alike in this ecological transformation. Academic research is identifying young people's barriers to involvement in sustainable development. An 'educational passport' will log students' activities and achievements and translate them into ECTS credits. This is not just a new curriculum, it's a new pedagogical approach – open to all and relevant to all.