What if I told you that climate change isn’t just about melting ice, burning forests, or protests, it’s about us, our future, and what we decide to do right here at Siena?
Right now, a group of our very own friars from Siena University are in Belém, Brazil, participating in COP30, taking our Franciscan values of justice, community, and care for creation straight to the global stage. They’re not just watching, they are representing us, speaking up, learning, collaborating, and reminding the world that real change begins with compassion, accountability, and unity.
Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers, because they are doing the kind of work many of us hope to do one day that truly makes a difference.
But here’s the part we can’t ignore:
Their presence means nothing if we don’t match it with action here at home.
We have an incredible resource on campus that many students don’t even know exists: the Laudato Si’ Center for Integral Ecology, a space dedicated to environmental education, sustainability, spirituality, and real-world action. Imagine what Siena could become if more students got involved: projects, workshops, volunteer opportunities, service trips, activism, and meaningful change that starts here, not “somewhere else.”
Little things matter.
Choosing reusables. Turning off lights. Eating more responsibly. Showing up for events. Speaking up.
Small actions multiplied by hundreds of students = a culture shift.
Here are three ways Siena students can plug in right now:
- Volunteer with the Laudato Si’ Center — help with events, advocacy, or long-term sustainability initiatives.
- Practice daily green habits — cut down on waste, save energy, and make mindful choices about what you consume.
- Raise awareness on campus — host discussions, join clubs, write for student media, or push the student government to support climate action policies.
COP30 isn’t just about policy, it’s about people, land, community, and our shared responsibility.
And here at Siena, we’re part of that story. Our small actions, especially when done together, remind the world that caring for creation begins with each one of us.