By Herald Malaysia
JOHOR BAHRU – The Ecological Pathways Training Workshop, a three-day programme aimed at equipping faith-based leaders with tools for climate advocacy, was held from Jun 27 – 29 at the MAJODI Centre in Plentong.
Organised by the Creation Justice Commission of the Malacca Johore Diocese (CJCMJD), the workshop was conducted under the guidance of the Episcopal Commission for Creation Justice of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. It brought together 26 participants from across Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Melaka, Ipoh, Johor, Singapore, and Sandakan.
The training sought to form “strong advocates and mobilisers who are courageous in confronting injustices and steadfast in offering true hope and robust ecological pathways that will advance hope, truth, resilience, justice, peace and compassion for all.”
Clare Westwood, Regional Director of the Episcopal Commission. facilitated most of the workshop modules over the three-day programme. On Day One, an additional resource speaker provided insights into the current state of energy transition in Malaysia and Singapore.
Clare opened the workshop with a session on the Global Climate Emergency. She highlighted that the average global temperature in 2024 had exceeded the Paris Agreement threshold of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels — a critical warning. If this trend continues, the world may permanently surpass this limit, resulting in increasingly severe and irreversible climate impacts.
Dr Maria Lee, Head of CJCMJD, aptly described the Earth as having a “fever that must be cooled,” a timely analogy in light of the increasingly frequent extreme heat events experienced worldwide. Following this, participants explored three key modules: A Just Transition and its implications, particularly for marginalised communities; Renewable Energy Alternatives; and Case Studies examining energy transition plans and false climate solutions in both Malaysia and Singapore.
On day two, the workshop focused on modules covering the Politics of Climate Justice, False Climate Solutions, and the Global Climate Emergency, examined through the lens of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and Scripture. Participants explored the role of the UNFCCC and critically examined concepts such as net zero, carbon trading, and geoengineering, which were presented as false solutions that risk deepening vulnerabilities, inequalities, and injustices — particularly in the Global South.
The sessions encouraged participants to reflect on how faith can guide communities toward authentic ecological pathways rooted in justice and compassion. Group discussions, presentations, and a creative skit brought to life the real-world consequences of policies driven by greed and corruption, especially for indigenous communities impacted by misleading schemes like “nature-based solutions.”
Anna Teresa, from the Diocese of Sandakan shared how poverty can lead individuals and communities to make uninformed or harmful choices. The day concluded with evening Mass at Graceville, a home for retired clergy and the elderly, offering participants a moment of spiritual reflection.
On the third and final day, participants engaged with modules on The Polycrisis and the Great Unravelling through the Lens of Faith, Ecological Pathways Forward, Community Resilience to Climate Impacts, and Permaculture. These sessions underscored the urgent need for systemic change, emphasising that we can no longer continue with business as usual.
Participants gained a deeper understanding of ecology as inherently relational, highlighting the interconnectedness between humanity and our natural, social, and built environments. This awareness reinforced the importance of discerning between genuine and false climate solutions to avoid unintentionally causing further harm under the guise of sustainability.
In response to the climate crisis, the Church has launched initiatives such as the PROTEC Campaign (Protect Our Earth, Protect Our Children), a five-year nationwide effort endorsed by all Malaysian bishops in 2020. Each year has focused on a specific theme, including reducing electricity use, cutting meat and food waste, eliminating plastic pollution, and lowering fuel consumption. The current and final phase of PROTEC 1.0 (Sept 2024–Aug 2025) carries the theme Use Less Paper and Wood.
This campaign will transition into PROTEC 2.0 under the REGENERATE! initiative, which will run from September 2025 to August 2030. The theme for its first year will be Regenerate Hope for Flora and Fauna.
The Ecological Pathways Training Workshop reinforced the realisation that we have caused the current climate emergency as well as the biodiversity and plastic pollution crises. However, lively conversations among the participants proved how a change of lifestyle, among other ecological pathways at the micro and macro levels, can put us back on the right path.
Participants expressed that the workshop deepened their understanding of ecological justice and strengthened their confidence to share this knowledge within their families, parishes, and ministries. Youth voices highlighted ongoing conversations around over-consumerism and environmental responsibility, while others emphasised the urgent need for greater awareness and advocacy. The workshop concluded with a heartfelt Prayer for Our Earth, calling for the transformation. – Herald Malaysia
