In 2022, approximately 60 percent of the global population resided in Asia, and nearly 40
percent of Asians lived in poverty. Although the poor contribute minimally to global emissions, they are the first and most severely affected by climate impacts.
Caritas Asia, with its 25 member organizations across 24 countries, is dedicated to addressing this crisis. The organization aligns with the global Caritas Internationalis Confederation and coordinates a national level, Caritas Asia focuses on planning and local implementation, engaging dioceses and parish communities in its efforts. Drawing from the lessons of Laudato Si’, Caritas Asia has made “Inspiring care for creation by practicing servant love-based leadership” one of its three strategic priorities for 2022-2025. Collaboration with the Federation of Asian Catholic Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) through its Office for Human Development/Climate Change Desk further strengthens these initiatives.
A significant early-century experience involved a delegation from Caritas Luxembourg, which visited Bangladesh’s southern coastal areas, severely impacted by climate change. During a pre-departure meeting with me at Caritas Bangladesh’s Dhaka office, some delegates were skeptical about the severity of the impacts. However, after a three-day visit to Satkhira, a coastal district, and discussions with local communities, their perspective shifted. Moved by the plight of the affected villagers, they mobilized funds for safe shelter and livelihood support. This visit highlighted a crucial lesson: witnessing the impacts firsthand can transform skepticism into meaningful engagement.
Pope Francis continuously inspires action with his message that “everything is connected” and “no one is saved alone.” His repeated calls to action resonate deeply within the global community. They have motivated Episcopal Conferences, Commissions, Ecclesial Networks, and various Caritas Organizations across Asia to enhance awareness and develop concrete climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Initiatives such as creating 1,000 bamboo gardens in the Philippines, planting one million trees in Pakistan, and the “each one plant one” movement in Bangladesh are testament to this inspiration.
We fully embrace Pope Francis’s assertion that climate change is a global social issue intimately linked to the dignity of human life. Our commitment is to unite in making our common home more beautiful, addressing the climate crisis with the urgency and dedication it demands.
Dr. Benedict Alo D’Rozario of Bangladesh is the president of Caritas Asia, one of seven regional offices of the Catholic Church’s humanitarian agency Caritas Internationalis. He was first elected into the post in 2019, making him the first lay person to fill the role.
