PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, who is President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), will take part in the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30).
The summit will be held from November 10 to 21, in Belém, Brazil, and will focus on global strategies to address the deepening climate crisis.
COP30 will bring together world leaders, scientists, and faith representatives to discuss practical steps for environmental protection.
One of the key issues on the agenda is how to value natural climate solutions, including sustainable farming methods that capture more carbon in the soil. These discussions are expected to explore both promising solutions and possible unintended effects that could impact local communities.
Cardinal Ferrão’s participation and intervention at COP30 underscore the Church’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection and climate justice, both in India and across Asia.
His presence is expected to highlight the moral and spiritual dimensions of the global ecological movement, reminding all that caring for creation is caring for humanity itself.
Following Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ (2015), the CCBI established the Commission for Ecology, affirming that caring for creation is a moral and spiritual responsibility.
The Church teaches that environmental stewardship is an act of faith, rooted in gratitude for God’s creation and linked closely with social justice, since the poor often bear the brunt of environmental damage.
The CCBI Commission for Ecology now collaborates with 132 Latin dioceses across India and 564 religious congregations to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices. This mission gained new momentum after the release of Laudate Deum in 2023, which renewed the Church’s call for urgent ecological action.
