Climate change

According to data from the meteorological service, the intensification of the atmospheric phenomenon could affect 65 provinces out of 82 and last throughout the first half of 2024. Agricultural production but also water supply will be at risk. Marcos orders measures to mitigate the impact of the rainfall shortage.

At COP28, a compromise agreement was reached that calls for "transitioning away from fossil fuels". Meanwhile, ASEAN and Japan will hold a summit in Tokyo later this week to discuss ways to speed up the environmental transition in Southeast Asia.

A phenomenon that was previously evident in the north and is now also being felt in the south, in the area where the Tigris and Euphrates converge. According to the UN, it is the fifth country in the world for vulnerability to climate change, more than 130,000 people have lost land and homes. In 2023, 25 per cent of small farmers in the Nineveh Plain had to give up their crops.

At the ongoing UN conference in Dubai, the Sri Lankan president proposed two initiatives: the establishment of the Forum of the Countries of the Global South to exert political weight in the dialogue with the countries of the North, and the creation of a university on the island to work exclusively on the issue of global warming.

The UN leader says that ice in Antarctica and glaciers in Nepal are melting, a "symptom of the sickness bringing our climate to its knees”. The host country, UAE, is setting up a US$ 30 billion fund. The Vatican Secretary of State will speak on behalf of the pontiff who was forced to cancel his visit due to health problems. The environment is a topic of interfaith dialogue.

Yesterday the #we4resilience conference, a two-day event to understand how to deal with the disasters caused by climate change ended in the Indian capital. The event - held just as COP28 opens in Dubai - was attended by dozens of aid workers, priests and beneficiaries of projects implemented by Caritas together with other partners. The focus was on a comprehensive approach that takes into account the experiences of vulnerable communities.

A seminar on the perspective of integral ecology in India is currently taking place in Bengaluru under the auspices of Catholic bishops. In his introductory address, the Archbishop of Hyderabad said: “Integral ecological care is not just a concept; it is a living expression of our love for God and our love for our neighbours, both near and far.”

The United Nations is holding a conference in Uzbekistan to deal with this rapidly growing problem, which has a serious impact on health. Northern and Central Asia are among the most affected areas in the world, with the dried-up Aral Sea as a major source. According to experts, human activities are an important cause, and for this reason mitigation becomes essential.

Msgr. Martinelli on the appointment that in a fortnight in Dubai will also see the presence of Pope Francis. Ecology and climate become "an element of catechesis" today, especially in the land of Arabia. A document of religious leaders has already been drawn up in Abu Dhabi. Faiths can "converge on ecological issues", finding "fertile ground for encounter, confrontation, dialogue and knowledge" that also embraces "spiritual and doctrinal heritage".

Five years after the Manado Declaration, the Forum of Archipelagic and Island States (AIS), which brings together 51 countries from around the world, is being strengthened. Gathered in Indonesia - the country with the largest number of islands - they relaunched their commitment to increase solidarity and cooperation on major challenges such as combating ocean pollution, sustainability in fisheries and tourism, and emergency management.

Fr. Robert Athickal, founder and director of Tarumitra - active in 23 states of the Asian giant - emphasises the salient passages of the apostolic exhortation. 'Friends of Trees' in Sanskrit, the Catholic environmental association is committed to the conservation of biodiversity and ecological issues.

The Muslim Council of Elders opened an office in the Indonesian capital during yesterday’s conference. The Council plans to work with other groups in Malaysia and Pakistan. Focus on the environment coincides with Laudate Deum, and comes a few weeks before COP28 in Dubai. Christians and Muslims share the same concern for the environment. The Bandung Eco Camp highlights the Church’s commitment at work.