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The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Planetary Health Matters: The time for faith in action is now
WHEN I heard of Pope Francis' death last month I felt a profound sense of loss. The planetary health movement lost an ally – one of the most prominent voices linking morality with climate action. Through his legacy in the encyclicals Laudato Si' and Laudato Deum , Pope Francis made clear that the climate crisis is not just a scientific issue; it is deeply social and moral, in no small part fuelled by greed and short-termism. His unflinching stance against fossil fuel interests and calls for radical political action inspired many in the Catholic Church and beyond. His influence reminds us of the impact faith leaders can have as messengers in their communities, often holding more weight than politicians and scientists. And here we need to ask ourselves a pressing question: Do our faith leaders feel sufficiently empowered to speak out as trusted climate communicators? In Asean, where faith is deeply embedded in culture and identity, the answer must be that more can and must be done. Faith communities can be powerful catalysts for values-based climate action – inspiring collective responsibility and working with their congregations to encourage rapid behaviour change. We must foster alliances between planetary health efforts and the influential moral leadership existing within faith groups. Faith traditions have long held a wisdom that modern economies have missed: that the health of the planet is inseparable from the spiritual health of our souls. Across history, religious teachings have framed environmental stewardship as a moral obligation and sacred duty. In 2024, the Al-Mizan Covenant for the Earth was launched under the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, widely supported by Muslim scholars. Drawing on Quranic principles, stewardship (khalifah), and balance (mizan) underscore our responsibility as humans to maintain the intricate equilibrium of creation. This links to the core Islamic values that condemn waste, greed, and exploitation. In Buddhist thought, harming the environment violates the interconnected web of life as beings are linked through non-harm ( ahimsa ) and mindfulness. Tree ordination ceremonies in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia where monks symbolically protect trees, reflect this ethos. Similarly, Hindu traditions have long emphasised ecological responsibility through concepts like cosmic duty ( dharma ) and reverence for the five elements that make up the universe ( pancha mahabhutas ), reminding us that environmental stewardship is an ancient spiritual mandate. Malaysia, and Asean more broadly, have a unique opportunity to incorporate diverse spiritual and cultural teachings in climate leadership. Faith leaders can serve as trusted messengers, shifting the conversation from technical policy to the moral heart of the issue, while bridging political, social, and economic divides. They can mobilise communities, foster resilience and shape a narrative of hope and responsibility in an era of deepening despair. Faith communities are already beginning to flex their economic influence. A powerful step by Christian dioceses, religious orders, and associations has been divesting from fossil fuels. At the 2023 climate summit, COP28 in Dubai, and again ahead of 2024's COP29 in Baku, faith groups united around ethical finance. In Islamic finance, green sukuk – shariah-compliant investments in renewable energy – illustrate how faith-aligned financial tools can advance the clean transition. By focusing on the ecological impact of financial decisions, faith leaders can guide individuals to align their investments with environmental values, urging scrutiny of how wealth is deployed, and embedding the principle that protecting creation must inform every economic choice. Closer to home, the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health and Faith for Our Planet is taking a significant step by launching The Sunway Charter: Faith in Action, conceptualised during the 2024 Planetary Health Summit and 6th Annual Meeting. The charter offers practical guidance for faith communities to integrate and operationalise planetary health principles into teachings and outreach. A global webinar at the end of this month will launch the charter, gathering global multifaith leaders to share insights, foster partnerships with health and environmental organisations, and deepen interfaith dialogue. A central feature is a practical, action-oriented toolkit to empower faith leaders to educate their communities, inspire collective action, and counter misinformation with empathy and credibility. Equipping them with the tools to lead this mission is not optional; it is essential for achieving real and lasting change. Research has shown us the scale of the climate crisis, but science alone will not save us. We must also engage hearts, values, and moral imagination. The charter is an invitation to faith communities to step boldly into climate leadership. We urge religious leaders, scholars, and congregations to embrace it, use the toolkit, and weave planetary health into teachings and practices so that care for creation becomes not only an environmental duty, but a sacred moral calling. The time for faith in action is now. To learn more about the charter go to Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, a physician and experienced crisis leader, is the executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. She is the founder of Mercy Malaysia and has served in leadership roles internationally with the United Nations and Red Cross for the last decade. She writes on Planetary Health Matters once a month in Ecowatch . The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Eamon Ryan: Here's a job for the next pope. Deliver us from climate apathy
When they close the doors of Sistine Chapel on Wednesday morning I pray the Holy Spirit will inspire every cardinal, reminding them of the cry of the earth, which Pope Francis put centre stage over the last 12 years. I loved it when in the first days of his papacy, Francis defined himself as a sinner, like every one of us. Mercy, forgiveness and humility seemed to be the operating principles of the 'field hospital' church he wanted to create. In time, though, it is his teaching that will stand out, especially his encyclical Laudato si' , connecting care for Mother Earth with concern for the poor, and his exhortation in Laudato Deum for political leaders to stop ignoring the ongoing destruction of our natural world. The next pope will be important in this because this ecological crisis is about to move into a new phase. We will need spiritual leaders who can help us cope with the crisis of confidence that will come with the growing realisation that we are breaching safe atmospheric limits and the 1.5 degree goal committed to in the Paris Agreement 10 years ago. We need to rouse ourselves from what Tony Blair described last week as the current 'era of apathy' around the climate issue. No amount of techno-optimism or books with smart econometrics or energy analysis are going to stir us into action. Instead, we can be inspired by a mission centred around taking responsibility to help protect the next generation and having a stronger sense of belonging to our own local environment, within this dramatically changing world. READ MORE Laudato si' was of historic significance because it bridged a gap that had grown between science and religion over centuries. The theory of evolution has now itself evolved. Martin Luther King said the long arc of the moral universe bends towards justice, but it seems that in the physical universe, living systems also tend to adapt towards ever more complexity, interconnection and love. We will not make the necessary climate leap if it is based on division, whether between rite and reason, the political left and right, rural and urban or young and old. I expect the cardinals will pick someone who will follow the climate leadership of Francis. Almost half the electors are from developing countries, where the destruction of nature and the injustices within the current energy and economic system are so patently clear. There is one other division I hope the next pope can heal. That is the differentiation of roles between men and women in the Catholic Church . In the Irish church's response to the synodal process established by Francis, this was the number one issue, with near unanimous agreement on the need for change. The submissions from every continent told a similar story but so far no real action has been taken. That has to change, and it surely will because the church itself is about to go through a radical transition. I recall Fr Kennedy O'Brien SJ, one of the last Jesuits teaching in Ireland, saying that the proponents of Vatican II are about to see their aspirations fulfilled, because the laicisation of the church is coming, whether people like it or not. In 10 years time, there will not be the clergy to maintain the old order and the pews will become empty unless a new generation finds the church a relevant place to be within. Part of that relevance will surely develop as people come together to pray for the care of creation, and consider what that means for their parish. That should happen as part of a wider ecumenical movement – this issue rightly belongs to people of every faith, creed and conviction. [ Climate anxiety is like parenthood: you get used to living with constant worry Opens in new window ] In the synodal process, it was noteworthy that the issue of protecting the environment did not feature, unless it was brought up by the likes of Trócaire or the local Laudato si' group. I don't think that reflects an intrinsic lack of interest, but rather that many people feel overwhelmed by what they are being told and have a certain sense of helplessness from not knowing what to do. [ Who will be the next pope after Francis and how does the process work? Opens in new window ] The tide of environmental thinking seems to have never been lower. It feels like what happens before a tsunami arrives, when the shoreline drops dramatically in advance of the bigger incoming wave. We have seen such waves of collective climate consciousness over the last 30 years and we need to start thinking about how the next wave can lead to real effective change. If collective consciousness is what matters, then the churches should surely have a key role to play. We need the spirit as well as science on our side. As Francis wrote, the two can come together in care for our common home.
