29 January 2022, By Zoom Application
TOA partnered with ICE network, by this collaboration we will respond to, and mitigate the emerging effects of climate change in a peaceful, equitable, and sustainable way.
Climate Change is a commons issues and the greatest threat to the faming system. The year 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the UNFCCC. It seems that the international community is failing to keep the temperature rise below 1.5℃ although it has discussed how to address the climate crisis in the UN climate talks, and responded to climate breakdown for almost 30 years. With the all the emission reduction pledge submitted by the countries last year, the world is on track for 2.4 ℃ of global warming which will condemn lives of millions of people in low-lying islands and developing countries to flooding, and extreme weather events (ICE Network, 2022).
There were key speakers from various faith and around 22 participants working on social change and ecological justice from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tai Wan, and Thailand in the forum. The main sharing and discussion were about spiritual perspectives on the global issue, the obstacles of the climate issue, the global issue and the local action, and how can we bring a real positive change to the world? In order to build the network and tackle climate change issues.
“The United Nations framework convention on climate change was established in 1992, the world government has choked to respond to the climate crisis for the past 30 years. Just before the COP26, last year, the government give the significant progress to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial loaders with the nations determining for carbon dioxide reduction…
However, the temperature is expected to rise 2.44 degree Celsius, including many other problems. So, we prepared. I hope we can collaborate with faith-based organizations since the religious people have had an active role in the COP for three decades and recently increasingly joined the global climate talk, to gather wisdom and get through this challenging issue.”
Aloysio Kim Jong Hwa,
the IOFM Committee and the Franciscan Brothers in South Korea
“I think, this discussion is very timely that we can try to work together to bring hope. So that, in Franciscan International we are working together with different faiths and human rights organizations on climate change issues. First of all, we listen to the cry of the people in different parts of the world. We are going to work with communities in Solomon’s Island, Papua New Guinea, Madagascar, Italy, Switzerland, and etc. We also bring those consequences into different international panel of a climate change negotiations and the human rights, so the testimonies from the local level to be heard by the decision-maker at the international level…
We work closely with Anglican community in Solomon Island who are affected directly from climate change, we brought the consent of our Anglican communities and catholic communities in Solomon Island to Glasgow COP26 and work at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. When we talk about climate change issues, we also bring the human rights aspect and be coherent in different aspects. Finally, we can address and respond the climate crisis together.”
Budi Tjahjono, Franciscan Network
“According to the IPCC report climate change will increase the incidence of cyclone tidal surges and flats in Bangladesh so that are all kinds of natural disasters that the world has not seen in the last 2,000 years, while Bangladesh contributes only 0.3 % of global emissions of greenhouse gasses. The capital electricity consumption in USA is 12,990 kilowatt/hour while in Bangladesh is only 320 kilowatt/hour, the disparity consumption of energy between rich and poor country must be addressed if what we want to have a real solution to this looming disaster the rich countries must be convinced that maintaining a high energy consumption test lifestyle is not sustainable, and then although not responsible for climate change in Bangladesh…
It is important to preserve the natural ecosystem, forest, river by emphasizing on the balanced relationship between human being and nature, in this regard there is no substitute for global cooperation partnership and political goodwill.”
Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Professor of Economics at the Department of
Development Studies of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
“Whatever the different religions, there’s a lot of their delicious and his people who respected so important role in terms of educate and potentially Advocate advocacy. So, bringing people together, forces together, to hear the voices of the most vulnerable, to work towards some paradigm shift away from consumption, and to say common humanity…
I saw many different examples of small groups and small organization and interfaith group coming together being a support for each other and treating each other and to encourage some transition. An example from Joanna Macy, her work is acknowledging the Truth Mandala- bringing us back to powerful connection, a key moment by sharing the pain, feeling what is happening, coming from gratitude, and asking what is it in life- the basis for transformation.”
Jill Jameson, International Network of Engaged Buddhists
“Where I could choose what I would do next, what I decided was the only two things that really would benefit my grandchildren’s generation, and so clearly to be involved in preventing catastrophic climate change…Simpler Living and Higher Thinking…
The interfaith liaison committee would encourage people around the world that you pray and meditate together, in terms of this period, so much to do in so little time, the great wisdom of all those traditions is to pause and pray more and more rather than less… And, we provided some sources that give people some insight into what the issues are at the climate change talks…”
Bishop Phillips Huggins, Anglican Church of Australia
After the sharing and discussion, the partners who work on climate issues from different faiths, the core working group came from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Thailand, agreed to develop and organize a series of workshop or training targeting religious leaders from different backgrounds, civil society members from different religious/ethnic groups, people who are affected by climate/ecological crises on grassroot level, people who are willing to learn from various spiritual background and have concern in ecology, in order to tackle climate change, to promote climate justice, and to strengthen the climate network in Asia. And, the training was planned for learning and exchange on the current situation of climate change, spiritual ecology wisdom, alternative model, and engagement and action.
Towards Organic Asia 