Integral ecology is a holistic approach to understanding the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world, and how this affects every aspect of human life.
Pope Francis popularized the concept of integral ecology in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si'. The encyclical cites examples of human and natural disasters, and proposes integral ecology as a framework to address these issues.
Interdependence
Integral ecology recognizes that humans and the environment are interdependent, and that our actions and decisions have direct consequences on how we live with each other and share the planet's resources.
Holistic
Integral ecology considers the complex connections between people and nature, including political, economic, social, cultural, and ethical dimensions.
Sustainability
Integral ecology aims to respond to complex ecological problems in a sustainable way.
Integration
Integral ecology integrates subjective, intersubjective, and objective realities, such as psychology, art, phenomenology, religion, ethics, philosophy, behavior, science, and systems analysis.
