Annual Report. PATRIARCHAL CURIA UGCC 2019

67 Bureau of the Environmental issues The Bureau of the Environmental іssues of the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church focuses on developing a responsible attitude among UGCC faithful towards God’s creation, na- ture, and raising environmental awareness in society through informational and educational activities and practical initiatives. On December 10-11, 2019, Kyiv hosted the first International Scientific and Practical Conference "Laudato Si: Environmental Contribution to Sustainable Development of Society" organized by the Bureau. The Conference was co-organized by the Interna- tional Environmental Association "Responsibility for Creation", the National Environmental and Naturalistic Center of Student Youth of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy", NGO "Environ- ment-People-Law" and NGO "Green Ark ". The conference was held in partnership with the State Environmental Academy of Postgraduate Education and Management, the Aarhus Informa- tion and Educational Center of the Ministry of Energy and En- vironmental Protection. The conference was attended by more than one hundred participants from seven countries, including representatives of more than 10 institutions of higher educa- tion, representatives of churches and religious organizations, educational and environmental institutions, the Inter-Parish Environmental Network of the UGCC, the UGCC Commission on Catholic Education, civil society organizations and media. The conference united the participants in the search for answers to today’s environmental challenges in the light of the first ever encyclical letter of Pope Francis "Laudato Si — Praise Be To You: On Care for Our Common Home". More than 40 reports and speeches on the analysis of contemporary environmental challenges, includ- ing pollution, lack of access to clean drinking water, climate change, environmental impacts of the war in Eastern Ukraine, as well as environmental education and legal issues of preservation of the Creator’s natural heritage and practical initiatives to protect the environment and ensure sustainable develop- ment of society were delivered and discussed during the conference. Special attention was paid to the environmental education and upbringing in schools, higher education and pastoral activity of the Church. On December 10-11, 2019, the first International Scientific and Practical Conference "Laudato Si: Environmental Contribution to Sustainable Development of Society" was organized in Kyiv by the Bureau on Environmental Issues attended by a hundred of participants from seven countries The combined efforts of religious communities in Ukraine have contributed to the growth of the Church’s authority and its contribution for the common good as well as strengthening of a civil society in Ukraine, especially in the sphere of state-church relations and human rights. It is beneficial to be united in the combined efforts through the active participation in the All-Ukrainian council of churches and religious organizations. The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church will continue to take a leading role in defending and promoting Christian values, fighting corruption and promoting Catholic social teaching as well as offering an example in reconciliation, dialogue and peace with other churches and religious communities