Asia's bishops support proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Flooding in Bangladesh

Source: UCA News

Asia's Catholic bishops have backed a campaign against fossil fuel proliferation as a part of tackling the climate crisis. The proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty could be "a vital player in tackling the impending climate crisis," said Bishop Allwyn D'Silva, chairman of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) Office of Human Development and Climate Change Desk. "The FABC is with you, and we are trying our best," he said, "to have the treaty agreed upon."

The retired Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay was attending a learning session on the treaty. The study session was organised online by the Laudato Si' Movement, a global Catholic climate action forum. The group was formed in 2015 with inspiration from Pope Francis' celebrated environmental encyclical, 'Laudato Si', which stresses global action for environmental protection and the fight against the climate crisis. Bishop D'Silva said he was in the study session "to show support" for the campaign.

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is a civil society campaign to create a treaty to stop fossil fuel exploration and expansion and phase-out existing production in line with the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, while supporting a just transition to renewable energy. It has been endorsed by the Vatican. The program includes the creation of a Global Registry of Fossil Fuels to ensure transparency and accountability of production and reserves.

A bloc of Pacific Nations began the call for a treaty against fossil fuel proliferation saying such an international agreement is necessary to complement other agreements and treaties, and to create affordable clean energy for all. Bishop D'Silva urged, "all to join this bloc of Pacific Nations in their call for a treaty…to accelerate an equitable shift away from fossil fuels to affordable, abundant, clean energy for all."

He said all should join hands together to show "our solidarity in trying to persuade governments and other important people who are responsible for this climate emergency." He called on businesses, communities, and policymakers to unite in the campaign to bring the treaty to fruition. The proposed treaty should stop the expansion of fossil fuel exploitation and manage a just transition away from coal, oil and gas to clean energy.