Bangladesh Church Calls for ‘Green Churches, Homes and Communities’ amid Climate Crisis

The Catholic Church in Bangladesh has called for greater cooperation among faith communities, civil society, cooperatives and local communities to address climate change and build a more sustainable and resilient society.

The call came during a seminar on the Care for Creation held on August 29 at the CBCB Centre in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The country, a densely populated South Asian nation particularly vulnerable to flooding, cyclones and other climate-related impacts, faces growing environmental challenges.

The seminar was jointly organized by the Episcopal Commission for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Central Association of Christian Co-operatives (CACCO) Ltd. It was held to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation under the theme, “Uniting Faith, Science and Community for a Culture of Care.”

Around 60 participants attended, including bishops, religious leaders, cooperative leaders, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, youth clubs and other social groups.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, of Dhaka attended as chief guest, while Bishop Paul S. Sarkar of the Church of Bangladesh was the special guest. The seminar was chaired by Bishop Gervas Rozario, chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Promoting Integral Human Development and Bishop of Rajshahi.

Presentations and discussions addressed the protection of Indigenous peoples’ land rights, Green Cooperatives as a dimension of sustainable development, and the development of Green Communities and Green Churches.

Speakers stressed that responding to climate change requires the participation of individuals, families, religious institutions, cooperatives, NGOs, young people and local communities. Particular attention was given to the role of cooperatives in promoting environmental protection, sustainable development and climate resilience.

A panel discussion and open forum allowed participants from different sectors to share experiences, concerns and recommendations and to explore ways of strengthening cooperation in caring for creation.

Speakers emphasized that care for creation cannot be assigned to a single group or institution but is a shared responsibility. Reflecting on the relationship between humanity and nature, one speaker said, “If we consider the river our sister and the mountain our brother, then the Earth is our mother. We cannot harm our own mother.”

The discussion also highlighted the concept of Green Cooperatives, encouraging cooperative organizations to adopt environmentally responsible practices and become more resilient to climate change.

Participants emphasized the need to raise environmental awareness among cooperative members, improve waste management, conserve energy and involve local communities in sustainable initiatives.

The seminar also stressed the importance of bringing faith, science and community together in responding to the environmental crisis. Faith can inspire people to care for creation, science can help communities understand environmental challenges, and collective action can translate that understanding into practical responses.

The gathering concluded with a call to strengthen commitment to Green Churches, Green Homes and Green Communities and to work toward a sustainable and resilient future for present and future generations.