Carlos Ramos reflects on sustainability and economy in the 21st century

During the Querida Amazonia session he addressed points of convergence between the vision of Pope Francis and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

On September 18, 2024, the monthly session of the interdisciplinary group Querida Amazonía entitled “Sustainability and economy in the 21st century: A dialogue between the SDGs and the vision of Pope Francis” was held, taught by Mtro. Carlos Ramos Cárdenas, director of the School of Social Responsibility, and moderated by Mtro. Jovani Fernández Puentes, academic at the School of Education and Humanities.

The director opened the session by delving into points such as the environmental instability generated by climate change and the four sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN): end of poverty, zero hunger, health and well-being, and quality education.

He also shared Pope Francis' vision on the economy and the environment: proposing, through the encyclical Laudato si', a profound change in the development model based on social justice and the protection of nature, addressing the environmental crisis as an ethical and social problem that affects the most vulnerable.

Later, Mr. Ramos Cárdenas highlighted the points of convergence between the vision of the SDGs and the vision of Pope Francis, where a common element was highlighted: the need for a profound change in our development model to achieve a sustainable future. In addition, he identified some specific common objectives: the eradication of poverty, the promotion of social justice, access to water, energy and food, among other points.

Afterwards, there was a conversation about the role that governments, companies and civil society have in building sustainable economies, as well as the challenges faced in achieving this objective: the transition to renewable energies, the promotion of the circular economy, promoting social inclusion and the development of green technologies.

After citing some examples of initiatives that are being developed in Latin America with the aim of integrating sustainability into the economy, the director of the School of Social Responsibility concluded with a call to action arguing that “a profound change is necessary in our way to think, act and consume, since the construction of a healthy economy requires the collaboration of everyone.”