Faithful, reasonable Catholics of good will sometimes disagree on how we ought to care for creation. This is necessarily a political topic, since it involves not only personal actions but also public policy. It is also a topic for scientific inquiry, and people disagree about what the observations of scientists mean and how they should guide lawmakers. The Church does not have dogmatic teachings on specific environmental issues (e.g. climate change, fossil fuel usage, plastic pollution, habitat destruction, etc.) or what we ought to do about them. However, she provides us with principles based on Sacred Scripture and Tradition that should guide our thoughts and actions. Here's what the Catechism has to say under the heading Respect for the integrity of creation (2415-2418):
The seventh commandment [You shall not steal] enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man's dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbor, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation.
