Date posted: September 8, 2025

On July 30, 2025, the Asia Pacific Women of Faith Network (APWoFN) held its inaugural online climate change seminar as a flagship project. The theme was “Transition from Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy”, and participants from across the Asia-Pacific region joined.

Opening & Prayer

The opening was declared by the Secretariat of Religions for Peace Asia, and Dr. Deepali Bhanot (Religions for Peace India, and APWoFN member) offered a prayer of gratitude and blessing toward the Earth. Following that, Ms. Naoko Kawada (Secretary General of APWoFN and Vice Chair of the Women’s Committee of Religions for Peace Japan / Representative of Al‐Amāna) shared on the ongoing heat waves in Japan and the challenges of fossil fuel dependence, and spoke about the importance of strengthening the role of a religious‐based network.

Keynote Lecture I

Tim Buckley (Director, Climate Energy Finance)
He has long analyzed the economic merits and realities of the shift to renewable energy.

Summary:

  • Buckley introduced the advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the climate crisis and a court ruling in New South Wales rejecting a coal‐mine expansion. Though promising, fossil fuel industries remain powerful and continue to externalize their costs to society, ignoring climate science.
  • He cited several reasons to maintain hope, from financial, technical, and policy perspectives, including rapid growth in renewables and battery storage capacity, China’s remarkable deployment, and success stories around the world.

Keynote Lecture II

Cheryl Dugan, (Director of Asia Pacific and Member Leadership Manila, Philippines) She lives in Manila and works within the Laudato Si’ Movement, promoting the spirit of Pope Francis’s encyclical and active engagement in the climate crisis.

Summary:

  • Dugan introduced that the Laudato Si’ Movement is composed of more than 900 Catholic organizations and approximately 20,000 leaders globally, committed to caring for our “common home.”
  • She stressed that climate change is not a distant threat but is already devastating lives via droughts, floods, heat, food insecurity, and displacement; the most affected are the poor, small island developing states (SIDS), and indigenous peoples, which she framed also as a moral crisis.
  • Dugan then outlined the “fossil fuel dilemma” in Asia—despite severe vulnerability to climate impacts, many countries remain heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Overcoming this requires bold political will and reforms, and she urged that local actions by faith communities can contribute meaningfully.

She also explained the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT): a citizen-led campaign anchored in three pillars — non-proliferation (halting new fossil fuel development and removing subsidies), phased elimination (just, science-based reduction), and just transition (protecting workers and communities).

Dialogue & Sharing of Practice

In the dialogue following the presentations, Dr. Deepali Bhanot spoke of humanity as stewards rather than owners of the Earth. Ms. Zhang Zhongyang of the Taoist Association presented examples of renewable energy adoption in China. From Australia, Dr. Sue Ennis proposed that faith communities should actively promote signature campaigns. Participants from Japan, Nepal, and Indonesia shared local practices and their aspirations.

Summary & Future Actions

At the end of the seminar, the participants reaffirmed the importance of exploring renewable energy adoption in religious buildings, promoting signatures endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and strengthening support (technical, knowledge, financial) from nations with resources. The next sessions (Session 2, 3) under APWoFN were announced.