Dear Fordham, 

We live in a beautiful world, full of teeming life and glorious diversity—and all of us play a part in taking care of it. 

When I came to Fordham, I was delighted to see how much progress the University had already made. For years, we've been working hard to lower our greenhouse gas emissions by becoming more efficient and powering our campus with new technology. We've taught our students how to be more sustainable in the classroom and across the world. And we've learned from our students too—listened to their urgent pleas that we do better by them and their future. 

One of the strongest and clearest voices on this issue is our own Pope Francis. With his encyclical, Laudato Si’, he reminded us of the stakes for this planet, the human race, and the most vulnerable among us. He urged us to take action both individually and collectively. This work is central to our identity as a Catholic institution—the responsibility to care for God’s creation and thus for each other. 

We at Fordham are now introducing our own Laudato Si’ plan: an action plan to guide a seven-year transformation process on our campuses. We’re taking a deeper look at how we use single-use plastics and learning how to compost our food waste. We’re cleaning and preserving our parks in the Bronx. And this is only the beginning. As we continue this journey, we know that our best and most powerful resource is you. Join us as we make a difference—not just for Fordham, but for the world.  (And attend tomorrow's summit on community power and climate actions, if you can.) 

All my best,

Tania Tetlow
President