Indian Bishop D’Silva observes most people in Asia not well-abreast of climate crisis

Mumbai Auxiliary Bishop Allwyn D’Silva has disclosed in an exclusive interview with Radio Veritas Asia his concern that most of the inhabitants across the continent are not well-informed on the climate crisis.

“I feel in Asia the majority of the people are not aware of this crisis,” he said. “And so, it is important that the office for Human Development, which is part of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), make people more and more aware.”

Regarded as the green bishop by his colleagues and friends, D’Silva explained that the climate crisis prompted them to coalesce the religious, lay, and business sectors around climate crisis awareness drives.

“That is why we have a number of workshops,” he said. “We have had workshops for bishops. We have had workshops for women. We have had workshops for the business people.”

The prelate also noted that the crusade to educate people on the climate crisis includes the involvement of seminary formators and the need to integrate it into the curriculum.

“The first point that I have been trying to do is to make the church in Asia, not only the church but also the whole of Asia, aware of this problem, D’Silva said. “But I don’t think we are fully aware,” adding that lack of climate crisis awareness is happening in dioceses across the continent.

The prelate mentioned that the church now has an office for the environment team.

“So, the first thing is to make the church aware,” he said, adding that safeguarding and conserving nature is the Vatican’s commitment to human development.

In Mumbai, the church is encouraging people to do their share in safeguarding and conserving nature, D’Silva noted.

“And here we try to invite the diocese to take concrete action,” he said. “How to make the diocese green. How to take concrete action so that more and more dioceses can partake and become green.”

D’Silva started his crusade to protect and preserve the environment when he got involved with the World Council of Churches in 1990.

The churches initiated the work for the environment, the prelate mentioned.

The Laudato Si encyclical of Pope Francis left a deep impact on D’Silva and motivated him to work on safeguarding and conserving the environment.

He recounted a meeting in Germany where people who had no faith were impressed by the Laudato Si encyclical of Pope Francis.

“I really love creation,” he said. “I care for creation. And that is maybe the reason why they call me the Green Bishop.”