The presence of 23 national Caritas organizations in Asia, which is home to the majority of the world’s poorest people, is a big relief to a wide array of Asian communities, who are directly and hardly hit by a long range of problems and issues in the region, including problems associated with climate and food production. These tasks are not easy since each country has its own context in dealing with environmental issue.
Caritas MOs are provided opportunities to strengthen their organizational capacities in environmental and climate change adaptation issues while also improving capacities of small farm holders and farming communities in their respective countries. In implementing the program, MOs use various mechanisms and approaches towards fulfilling Caritas Asia’s strategic priorities on eco-friendly agriculture mainstreaming, environmental protection, and staff development, which is in line with the Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’: Care for our common home
“Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day “ (Laudato Si’, Passage 25, p. 20)
Through this encyclical, we all are invited to see and improve our relations with God, fellow men and the environment. Human beings and environment, as God’s creation, are interdependent and interconnected under the situation of either mutual enrichment or mutual destruction. The environment challenges we faced today are the results of misuse technology and throw-away culture. Thus, the call for the respect of human dignity calls for a culture of care for all creation.
Under the new Regional Strategic Plan 2017 - 2020, Caritas MOs sustain the work with small holder farmers and environment issues under Environmental Justice and Climate Change Adaptation Program, with specific objectives:
- Sensitize on care and respect for creation
- Advocate and address issues related to climate change and environmental justice through Member organizations.
Environmental Justice and Climate Change
