The role of faith and religious-based institutions in advocating and supporting sustainable development is a largely untapped potential. At the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, Catholic bishops in Asia called for a renewed commitment to environmental stewardship and climate action.

Environmental Stewardship in Faith and Religion

Over 80% of the world’s population is affiliated with a religion. Faith and religion can offer comfort and guidance for those who seek it, especially in times of crisis. Around the world, religious institutions and faith-based communities have begun to harness their power and potential to help address the world’s most urgent issues, including the climate crisis.

Encouraging environmental stewardship is an inherent teaching of many faiths and religions, including Catholicism. In 2015, Pope Francis published an encyclical titled “Laudato si’: On Care for Our Common Home.” The encyclical criticizes consumerism and environmental degradation and calls for global, united action to care for the Earth as our common home.

The encyclical was followed by the publication of “Laudate Deum,” also written by Pope Francis, in 2023. The document echoes the previous letter by urging immediate actions against the climate crisis and calling for global cooperation from country and organization leaders.

Call to Action by Bishops in Asia

In March 2025, the Catholic bishops in Asia published a Pastoral Letter under the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). Titled “A Call to Ecological Conversion”, the letter conveys a renewed commitment to environmental stewardship and actions to end the climate crisis.

“On the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, a prophetic call for humanity to rediscover its relationship with creation, God, and one another, we renew our commitment to care for our common home,” the bishops wrote.

In the letter, the bishops pointed out the rampant ecological crisis across Asia. Several cities in Asia have been regarded as top-polluted cities multiple times, while rising temperatures have led to melting glaciers in the Himalayas, threatening water security. These issues, along with deforestation and food insecurity, disproportionately impact people living in poverty, small island residents, and vulnerable groups, including women and children.

Still, signs of hope exist amid the challenges. The letter highlights the roles of local communities, youth, and interfaith and civil society for their continuous efforts and resilience in fighting for the environment: “These signs of hope remind us that suffering is not the end.”

A Better Future for All

Ultimately, religious institutions and faith-based organizations have enormous potential to raise awareness on environmental stewardship and mobilize tangible actions to achieve a better world for all. This includes taking an active role in ending harmful practices, investments, and systems that can be detrimental to people and the planet.

The bishops conclude the Pastoral Letter by encouraging active participation at the international, regional, and local levels, including in COP30. They wrote, “As local Churches in Asia, we must rise to meet this moment with courage and determination. We must address the ecological crisis through four critical dimensions: mitigation, adaptation, legislation, and finance.”

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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Kresentia Madina

Reporter at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Madina is the Assistant Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at Green Network Asia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from Universitas Indonesia. As part of the GNA In-House Team, she supports the organization's multi-stakeholder engagement across international organizations, governments, businesses, civil society, and grassroots communities through digital publications, events, capacity building, and research.