Caritas Asia’s recent regional workshop on Integral Ecology, held from July 16-18, 2028, brought together 28 participants from across Asia to focus on grassroots interventions for promoting climate resilience. The event underscored the need to adopt sustainable measures in line with Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter “Laudato Si,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecological, social, economic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions.

Fr. Antony Fernandez, Associate Director of Caritas India, and Dr. Haridas V R, Lead, Climate Justice, represented Caritas India at the workshop, highlighting the organization’s crucial role in fostering climate resilience and social consciousness in the region.

“Integral ecology calls us to recognize, among other things, the spiritual dimension of our relationship with the environment and each other,” said Ms. Shimray, Regional Coordinator of Caritas Asia, in her opening remarks. “Let us approach this workshop with open minds and hearts, seeking insights that can inspire transformative action within ourselves and our respective communities.”

Dr. Benedict Alo D’Rozario, President of Caritas Asia, delivered a powerful keynote address, stressing the urgency of the climate crisis. “The climate crisis is real and it is the new normal. Dangerous climate change has been happening for a long time,” he noted. Dr. D’Rozario emphasized the need to create climate-resilient communities through Integral Ecology, incorporating environmental management, cultural and economic ecology, social ecology, and justice between generations.

Dr. Haridas Varikkotil Raman of Caritas India facilitated a session on understanding climate change and Integral Ecology. He highlighted the impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in Asia and urged the adoption of sustainable practices such as agroecology, water conservation, and waste management. Dr. Haridas explained the principles of Integral Ecology from “Laudato Si,” emphasizing the importance of local knowledge and community involvement.

Mr. Chintan Manandhar of Caritas Nepal presented the SAFBIN (Smallholder Adaptive Farming & Biodiversity Network) initiative, which involves multi-country collaboration to build climate resilience. This program empowers farmers through Participatory Rural Appraisal, on-farm Action Research, and Farmer Field Schools, promoting practices like seed banking, integrated pest management, and community-managed monitoring.

Ms. Clare Westwood of the Roman Catholic Episcopal Commission for Creation Justice discussed advancing resilience and ecological justice through the Catholic Church. She shared her framework for assessing community resilience and provided examples from various Asian countries. Ms. Westwood’s roadmap for building an “ecological church” offered a blueprint for integrating environmental consciousness into faith-based communities, emphasizing the 7Rs: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle, redesign, and regenerate.

Ms. Jing Rey Henderson of Caritas Philippines highlighted the role of advocacy communication in amplifying Caritas Asia’s environmental efforts. She stressed the importance of leveraging social media and digital platforms to engage broader audiences and foster greater awareness and action on environmental issues.

During group discussions, participants addressed challenges in building climate resilience, including inadequate knowledge of agroecology, government policies favoring corporates, and lack of subsidies for climate-resilient measures. To overcome these obstacles, participants proposed creating sub-regional think tanks, organizing exchanges of best practices, and strengthening collaborations with external organizations.

Caritas Asia committed to supporting its member organizations by building capacities in Integral Ecology, developing action plans, sharing best practices, and providing technical assistance. The collective efforts aim to create climate-resilient communities that embody the principles of Integral Ecology, fostering a sustainable and just future for all.

This workshop not only reinforced Caritas Asia’s dedication to climate action but also showcased Caritas India’s integral role in driving this mission. By mobilizing communities, fostering ecological consciousness, and promoting sustainable practices, Caritas Asia and its member organizations are paving the way for a more resilient and harmonious world.