Most institutions today don’t struggle with motivation. They struggle with overload.
Too many initiatives. Too many good ideas. Too little time to finish what matters most.
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform was designed to respond to this reality. Its certificate process follows a project-driven approach: focus on high-value actions, complete them well, review progress regularly, and adapt year by year.
Families and individuals are essential to this journey and are warmly invited to participate in the pursuit of a certificate by working with their parish, diocese, or another community enrolled on the Platform. Ecological conversion is not lived alone; it grows through relationships, shared action, and mutual support.
Below is a clear checklist for completing the annual certificate along with an explanation of why the Platform works this way.
The Annual Reset: Designed for Adaptation
Each calendar year, annual steps in the dashboard reset automatically. This is intentional. The reset:
- Clears last year’s action tracking
- Reopens annual steps
- Invites reflection, updating, and recommitment
What does not reset:
- Initial steps do not reset. Your enrollment, assessment survey, and your original reflection remain part of your journey on the Platform.
- Reflections may be shared again if you wish. Participants are always welcome to upload an additional or updated reflection through the “My Plans and Reflections” page. This is optional and can be helpful if your understanding, context, or priorities have grown over time.
This annual cycle reinforces adaptability allowing you to adjust priorities based on what you’ve learned, rather than locking you into outdated plans.
Your Annual Certificate Checklist
Step 1: Upload or Update Your Annual Plan
Each calendar year, your institution is asked to upload a Laudato Si’ Plan for the current calendar year.
- You may use a template available under “My Plans and Reflections”
- Or upload your own plan format
- If you have a multi-year plan, you can upload it again or submit an updated version
The goal is not to reinvent your work each year, but to clarify what you are prioritizing now. Plans are meant to be living documents, not static reports.
Step 2: Consider Financial or Resource Support (If Possible)
Each year, you’ll be invited to reflect on whether you are able to dedicate financial or other resources to support your plan. This step is about alignment—not obligation—and helps institutions connect intention with capacity.
Step 3: Mark Actions in “My Actions”
The Platform offers suggested actions to help you focus. As you carry out your plan during the year, you’ll mark completed actions in the “My Actions” section of your dashboard.
You may notice that:
- Actions from last year are no longer marked
- Familiar actions appear again
As we’ve shared earlier, even if you:
- Recycled last year
- Hosted creation-care prayers
- Reduced waste at parish events
You’ll still mark those actions again if you are doing them this year. Why? Because the platform tracks ongoing Christian environmental stewardship, not just one-time success.
This is intentional. This keeps the focus on what is actively happening each year and where strategic prioritization matters. Remember:
- Choose a small number of actions
- Select what fits your capacity
- Say no to what would dilute impact
Doing fewer things well creates more value than doing many things halfway.
Actions are marked again each year because the Platform treats sustainability as an ongoing cycle of focused projects, not a checklist you complete once. Re-marking actions keeps attention on what is actively happening now and allows institutions to measure real, current impact.
Step 4: Receive Your Annual Certificate
Once your annual steps are complete, your institution becomes eligible to receive the annual certificate. The certificate recognizes:
- Follow-through
- Focused effort
- Continued growth over time
It reflects ongoing commitment, not perfection.
Why This Works for Busy Institutions
This approach:
- Reduces initiative overload
- Encourages short, manageable cycles
- Makes progress visible
- Allows underperforming actions to be adjusted or dropped
Most importantly, it keeps sustainability work aligned with real-world capacity.
Ready to focus, act, and move forward this year?
Log into your dashboard and complete your annual steps
Complete your annual steps, update your actions, and keep building impact—one focused year at a time.
If you ever have questions or need support along the way, our team is here to help. Contact us at info@laudatosiactionplatform.org