Laudato Si' Movement Asia-Pacific Leaders Adopt 2030 Ecological Roadmap

Regional Climate Strategy Takes Root in Tagaytay City

Environmental leaders from five Asian nations gathered in the Philippines late last month to finalize a sweeping organizational road map for 2027–2030. The meeting, which took place from October 24 to 27 at the CBCP-Caritas Philippines Development Center in Tagaytay City, brought together 17 delegates from Myanmar, South Korea, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and the Philippines to synchronize their advocacy efforts, according to Catholic World Report.

The retreat served as a stark reminder of the immediate, localized consequences of regional climate instability. Isaura Barros, a 24-year-old executive board member of the Laudato Si’ Movement in Timor-Leste, shared a harrowing account of how wildfire smoke from neighboring Indonesia forced a nationwide closure of schools in her country from October 15–17. Her report underscored the urgency behind the delegates’ mission to move from awareness to structural policy change.

A Strategic Shift Toward 2035

The movement, a Catholic network established in 2015 following Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, is currently transitioning toward a long-term goal dubbed “Vision 2035.” The strategic road map presented by Asia-Pacific director Cheryl Dugan and associate director Christina Leaño is the product of an 18-month consultation process with grassroots communities. The plan centers on four distinct pillars, with ecological conversion serving as the foundation, symbolized by the ichthys, or early Christian fish sign.

The four pillars defined in the road map are:

Eco-spirituality: Integrated through catechesis, liturgy, and ongoing faith formation.
Sustainable and Resilient Communities: Focused on local adaptation and environmental protection.
Prophetic Advocacy: Dedicated to pushing for fair public policies and the divestment from fossil fuel industries.
Organizational Strengthening: Providing the structural backbone to support the other three initiatives.

Yeb Saño, a prominent Filipino climate activist and former chief climate negotiator for the Philippines at the United Nations, urged the assembled delegates to adopt a more decentralized leadership model. Saño, who chaired Greenpeace Southeast Asia from 2016 to 2025, argued that such a structure is essential to reflect the synodal spirit of a Church that walks together, a sentiment echoed in reporting from NCRegister.

Varied Approaches Across Asia

While the movement shares a unified vision, its implementation varies significantly depending on the political and ecological landscape of each member nation. In South Korea, the movement has been conducting climate actions in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square every Friday since 2020. With World Youth Day scheduled for Seoul in 2027, the South Korean chapter is currently pressuring the national hierarchy to commit dioceses and parishes to net-zero carbon emissions.

Wildfire Smoke, Conflict, and Conversion: Asian Laudato Si’ Groups Compare Notes in Philippines — Photo: ncregister.com

Conversely, the situation in Myanmar remains defined by acute humanitarian and political conflict. According to Catholic Daily, the Myanmar chapter has focused its efforts on integrating care for creation into the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar’s socio-pastoral framework for 2026–2030. The group also operates the BEES Network, which provides interfaith ecological education and relief support for internally displaced persons.

Other chapters are seeing growth through institutional partnerships. In Indonesia, the movement—known locally as GLSI—has established a presence across seven diocesan chapters. Working alongside the Archdiocese of Jakarta and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, they have launched projects ranging from mangrove restoration to parish-level composting training.

The Role of Grassroots Animators

The network currently relies on more than 8,000 trained volunteers, known as animators, and nearly 900 member organizations. Bishop Allwyn DʼSilva, auxiliary bishop emeritus of Bombay, India, addressed the retreat via video to emphasize the necessity of this work. As chair of the Office of Human Development for the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, DʼSilva pointed to the increasing frequency of heat waves, flash floods, and unpredictable cold snaps across the continent.

Laudato Si Movement, a Catholic Organization Dedicated to Helping Our Planet | EWTN News Nightly

We all know that there is an ecological crisis in Asia, as well as in the world. The Laudato Si’ movement has played a very important part in making people aware and care for creation, to take care of their common home, said Bishop DʼSilva.

The retreat concluded with a visit to the SVD Laudato Si’ Farm in Tagaytay, a 5.8-hectare site founded by Father Samuel “Sam” Naceno-Agcaracar in 2020. The facility operates as an ecotourism destination and a center for ecological education, bridging the gap between theoretical advocacy and practical, land-based stewardship. As the delegates returned to their respective countries, the closing words of the retreat served as their guiding principle: “May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.”

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