A Catholic Social Thought Approach to Sustainable Development

Introduction

The contemporary world has seen an increasing significance of the connection between Catholic Social Thought (CST) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UNICEF, 2021). Since nutrition scientists are essential to preserving a sustainable healthy food system, aligning CST principles with the SDGs can be an effective way to address structural issues in the area. One of the most significant structural issues in nutrition research is food insecurity (Thomas et al., 2021). This essay looks at UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 2.1 and the CST concept of "Solidarity" to understand the challenges related to food insecurity. It also recommends working with local community organisations and UNCC300, an integrated institution at Australian Catholic University (ACU), to address food insecurity.

Catholic social thought principle

Catholic Social Thought (CST) is a teaching concepts and doctrines that the Catholic Church produced, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Gichure & Pagnucco, 2022). Its major objective is to adapt Jesus' teachings and Christian doctrine to modern economic, social and political issues. It offers a structure for comprehending and dealing with ethical and societal problems (Sniegocki, 2023). Principles are key concepts in CST that provide as a framework for moral judgements and social behaviour. "Solidarity" is one of them.

A core idea in Catholic social thought, solidarity is the realisation that, as human beings, we are all related to and dependent upon one another (Sniegocki, 2023). It advances the notion that we have a moral duty to look out for and assist one another, especially the weakest and most marginalised elements of society. This idea has its roots in the Christian conviction that all individuals are valuable and deserving of respect because they are made in God's image.

Solidarity recognises that we are all members of a wider human family and that social decisions and acts have an impact on the whole community. The significance of cooperating for the common good is highlighted by this interconnection. Particular attention is paid to people who are oppressed, marginalised, or underprivileged in solidarity (Gichure & Pagnucco, 2022). It demands that the poor and vulnerable have preference because they are frequently the ones who experience the worst forms of social injustice. In addition to charity and deeds of compassion, solidarity also entails tackling the underlying causes of societal problems. It urges the pursuit of social justice, which entails establishing just and equal institutions and frameworks. National boundaries are not where solidarity ends.

Sustainable development goals

Target 2.1 from Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) says that: "By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round” (Bizikova et al., 2021). The target 2.1 begins with a commitment to ending hunger. This is a fundamental goal, recognizing that access to food is a basic human right. It aligns with the broader mission of SDG 2, which is "Zero Hunger."

The target emphasizes universal access i.e., "all people." It draws attention to the idea that everyone should have equal access to food and socioeconomic background, age, or fragility should not be factors in this process (Mensi & Udenigwe, 2021). In the pursuit of sustainable development, this all-encompassing strategy embodies the fundamental idea of leaving no one behind. Additionally, it emphasises about the food quality. In order to prevent foodborne illnesses, food is implied to be "safe" if it complies with health and safety regulations (Gil et al., 2019). "Nutritious" emphasises how vital it is to eat a balanced, healthful diet. "Sufficient" suggests that there should be enough food to satisfy everyone's dietary demands, both individually and collectively.

Target 2.1 establishes a deadline of 2030. This establishes a precise timeline for action, which facilitates progress monitoring and accountability of institutions such as governments. It emphasises how urgent it is to combat food insecurity and hunger (Gil et al., 2019). It is important to guarantee year-round access to food. This acknowledges that the production and consumption of food follow seasonal and cyclical patterns. It emphasises the necessity for reliable access to food through sustainable food systems, particularly in areas where seasonal food shortages are a problem.

In addition to being a goal by itself, having access to enough, healthy, and safe food is linked to the other SDGs (Bizikova et al., 2020). This has consequences for a number of goals, including gender equality (SDG 5), education (SDG 4), and health (SDG 3), and poverty reduction (SDG 1). Achieving more comprehensive sustainable development depends on ensuring food access. Millions of people worldwide are impacted by hunger and food insecurity, which continue to be major global challenges (UNICEF, 2021). Reaching this goal can have a big impact on people's livelihoods and general well-being, especially for those in vulnerable circumstances. Significant adjustments to the agricultural and food systems are required to meet this goal. It demands effective food distribution, sustainable farming methods, and a focus on food loss and waste.

Thus, SDG 2's Target 2.1 represents a significant turning point in the global endeavour to eradicate hunger and guarantee that everyone has year-round access to sufficient, healthy, and safe food (Gichure & Pagnucco, 2022). It acknowledges that access to nutritious food should be both universal and of the highest calibre. This aim offers a path forwards for tackling a major worldwide problem and raising the standard of living for millions of people by defining a precise deadline and addressing both the amount and quality of food.

Most problematic structural issue

In nutrition research, the enduring problem of food insecurity is the most troublesome structural issue. Communities all throughout the world are still plagued by food insecurity, which is defined as having limited or unpredictable access to enough food. An estimated 9.2% of people worldwide continue to experience chronic undernourishment despite attempts to strengthen food systems on a global scale (Thomas et al., 2019). Even though there is enough food produced generally, a sizeable section of the population in affluent nations like Australia experiences food insecurity. The main causes of this problem are environmental degradation, unequal access to resources, and economic inequities. Food insecurity is sustained by these systemic issues, which also worsen health inequities and impact disadvantaged people. The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the vulnerability of food systems, particularly for disadvantaged groups.

Food insecurity vs. water scarcity

Millions of people worldwide suffer from food insecurity, which can result in hunger, malnourishment, and other health issues. It is a complex issue having ties to the social, political, and environmental spheres. Basic human rights are violated when someone cannot obtain enough food that is safe, nourishing, and adequate (Dinar et al., 2019). The effects of food insecurity on people, communities, and economies are both short- and long-term. Beyond only Goal 2, it has strong ties to several other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as gender equality (SDG 5), education (SDG 4), health (SDG 3), and poverty reduction (SDG 1). On the other hand, with 2.2 billion people lacking access to clean drinking water, water scarcity is unquestionably a serious problem (Kookana et al., 2020). It also has connections to other SDGs, especially Goal 3 and Goal 6 (Clean Water and wellbeing).

Applying UNCC300 to address food insecurity

At ACU, UNCC300 is a course unit that emphasises professional and ethical skills that are essential for building a fair and vibrant society. It is the perfect venue for addressing food insecurity in the field of nutrition science since it promotes student engagement with local communities and addresses global challenges. Students studying nutrition science collaborate with local organisations to pinpoint the particular food security issues that the community faces in order to implement UNCC300 in tackling food insecurity (UNICEF, 2021). To determine the underlying reasons and vulnerable populations, this method would entail data collection, surveys, and interviews. To promote healthy eating, food preservation, and effective resource use, nutritionists might set up workshops, seminars, and instructional campaigns. People can be empowered to make knowledgeable food decisions by these activities.

Students can work with neighbourhood food banks and organisations to give people in need nourishing food to address the issue of food insecurity. Students might offer their nutrition skills to guarantee that the support is adequate and healthful (Kookana et al., 2020). Additionally, nutritionists can interact with local legislators to promote laws that deal with the underlying causes of food insecurity. This could entail programmes to lessen food waste, promote local agriculture, or increase income equality. Encouraging sustainable agricultural methods within the community can increase food production locally and lessen dependency on outside sources.

A different approach would be to focus mostly on government-led programmes to alleviate food insecurity. This strategy would involve creating and implementing national policies and initiatives, such as subsidies, restrictions, and food aid programmes. Government-led initiatives are important, but they might not have the same level of personal empowerment and community involvement as the selected strategy (Mensi & Udenigwe, 2021). In addition, political issues, inefficiency, and bureaucracy may pose problems for government programmes and reduce their efficacy. Although government-led programmes are necessary to combat food insecurity, a community-centered strategy makes sense since it can empower people, customise solutions, advance social justice, and function effectively (Dinar et al., 2019). This approach, which tackles the structural cause of food insecurity at its source, is in line with CST principles, the SDGs, and the overarching objective of building a more equitable and sustainable society.

Conclusion

In summary, the convergence of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Catholic Social Thought (CST) provides a potent framework for tackling urgent problems in nutrition research, especially the enduring challenge of food insecurity. The CST concept of "Solidarity" emphasises how all people are connected to one another and how morally we should help and encourage one another, especially the marginalised. The application of SDG Target 2.1, which endeavours to eradicate hunger and guarantee universal availability of safe, nourishing, and ample food, indicates a straightforward route for tackling the systemic problem of food insecurity.

Due to environmental degradation, unequal access to resources, and economic inequities, food insecurity is still a major problem. However, nutrition science professionals may significantly influence this issue through the application of CST principles and the global commitment of the SDGs. Students can work with local community organisations to examine particular concerns, educate the community, offer nutritional support, advocate for policy changes, and promote sustainable agriculture practises by putting the principles they learnt in UNCC300 to use.

A step towards building a more equitable and sustainable society is this all-encompassing strategy, which is based on morality and social responsibility. Nutrition scientists can help achieve the larger SDGs, especially those that pertain to equality, health, poverty alleviation, and education, by tackling food insecurity in this way. By uniting in solidarity, we can make sure that everyone, regardless of circumstances, has access to enough food that is safe and nourishing, creating a world in which no one is left behind.

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