By Matters India Reporter

Mumbai: The Climate Change Desk (CCD) and the Office of Human Development (OHD) of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in collaboration with FABC Central Secretariat, Hong Kong and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) are organizing a conference on “Business sector’s response to Laudato Si” at FABC Documentation Center, Bangkok, Thailand, November 6-7.

“The background of the conference gains importance as Southeast Asia is expected to face the worst effects of climate change in the next 30 to 50 years. This will have a significant impact on regional economies and livelihoods. The region is also highly dependent on natural resources and forestry, and these exports are likely to be adversely affected by extreme weather events. It is expected that millions of vulnerable people are likely to lose their homes due to flooding and famine. If the region fails to engage in sustainable development practices and disaster risk management, regional growth and poverty eradication will be severely impacted,” Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, executive secretary of OHD/CCD, FABC, told Matters India.

‘Laudato si’ is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. It has the subtitle “On Care For Our Common Home” published in 2015. It focuses on the environment and sustainable development.

While many Southeast Asian countries have taken steps to tackle the impact of climate change, more needs to be done to protect livelihoods and economies. The region needs to employ a number of adaptation measures, encouraging low-carbon growth, raising public awareness, funding additional climate change research, and enhancing policy planning. In the long-term, this might help to mitigate the effects of climate change, said Bishop D’Silva, who is also auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Bombay, India.

A fundamental task of the Church in Asia is to call for radical conversion away from overconsumption to a more sustainable lifestyle, to a renewed sense of stewardship and a culture of respect for creation, of simplicity and sobriety, of hope and joy. FABC is one of the signatories to the Continental Bishops’ Statement on Climate Change presented to the 20th Conference of Parties (COP20) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Lima on December 5, 2014 to join the effort of world leaders (COP 20) gathered for the signing of a legally binding climate agreement in Paris in 2015. Climate Change Desk-CCD of OHD- FABC has been focusing on climate change with much more intensity ever since it was established in 2015, the bishop said.

The participants could be like-minded, climate-conscious individuals/heads of companies/business houses, business persons/corporate sector experts with experience in developing eco-efficient business modules, few delegates could consist of environmental/climate change activists from the region, grassroots leaders who are involved in climate change/environmental programs/projects from the regions to be identified and invited by the secretaries, youth leaders (men or women) who can be the vanguard for climate justice in the Church today.

“The conference intends to bring together approximately 25 to 35 delegates who are from the corporate sector and a few civil society members who are concerned and are working or willing to work to make a difference for care for ‘Our Common Home,” said Deepika Singh, project coordinator OHD/CCD: FABC.

The participants will be from South East Asia, specifically from Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and East Timor.

“The conference plans to provide the delegates with space for reflection on “LAUDATO Si” an encyclical of Pope Francis on Environment and to understand the best possible way to “Expanding Sustainability Commitments” in context to the extreme climatic changes taking place in the country with specific focus on the region,” Singh said.

There are four parts to the program consisting of an opening session, technical session, sharing on business good practices and a way forward. A session to understanding clearly the climate change concept, current trends and related debates followed by an input and reflection on Laudato Si the official document of Pope Francis. The technical session at the conference is planned to empower the participants with information and technical assistance to be efficient caretakers of Our Common Home.

The individual good business practices are scheduled with a view to provide an opportunity for mutual learning and enhance our skills to be an eco-efficient business practitioner.

Finally, the conference will conclude with exploring a way forward and vision for future collaboration.

A group of key speakers include Bishop Philip Banchong Chaiyara, chairperson of Justice and Peace Development, Caritas Thailand, Fr Raymond L. O’Tool SFM, secretary general of FABC, Bishop Philip Banchong Chaiyara, Fr. Michael Vinai Boonlue SJ, Xavier Learning Community, Dr Priyadarshini Karve: CEO: Samuchit Enviro Tech, Somnuck Jongmeewasin, Lecturer Silpakorn at University International College (SUIC), Michael Saalfeld: Founder, Chairman & CEO at Litchblick-Power distributing company. Project partner with Council of the Laity of the Philippines, Raymond Daniel H. Cruz Jr, Managing Director at Wegen Laudato Si, advocate Julito Sarmiento, Co-Founder, and President WeGen, Distributed Energy, Philippines, Lau Boon Ping (Malaysia) of director, Olive Energy, Biomass Power Plant, Malaysia.

Some of the sub-themes are ney of an Entrepreneur: to bring to reality a Palm Waste to Electricity Power Plant in Sarawak, Malaysia, of converting Rice Husk to Electricity Power plant in Kedah and some other interesting technologies dealing with Low Carbon emission, ecological sustainability and role of business in Asia, Climate Change: Science, current trends/ debates and challenges for South East Asia, Environmental Laws in South East Asian Countries (Legal and Regulatory Factors in Business), ‘Corporate Climate Responsibility’, and transition to renewable energy in the dioceses of Philippines.