Overconsumption of natural resources by human beings fouls the Earth's systems and threatens the existence of the myriad life forms they support. If we don't change this behavior, humans will drive themselves and countless innocent beings to extinction. The lessons we must learn to prevent this most grave sin can be found in our trash cans. By taking responsibility for the waste we generate, we are taking personal responsibility for the damage we do to the environment.

Good people the world over are acting responsibly by adopting the practice of Zero Waste and making the commitment to treat the materials they discard as valuable resources instead of trash. For this movement to succeed on a global scale, it needs the support of government leaders. Using your authority to declare Vatican City the world's first Zero Waste nation, and asking your followers to practice the example set by you and your fellow citizens, will initiate the shift you so eloquently called for in your Laudato Si encyclical.