The Church in the Amazon has sounded a new warning about the growing risks stemming from the global climate crisis. In light of scientific projections warning of the possible arrival of a high-intensity El Niño phenomenon, the Presidency of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) Northern Region 2 issued an urgent call to ecclesial communities, social organizations, and authorities in the Amazon region to prepare and take preventive action.
In a letter addressed to bishops, priests, deacons, representatives of REPAM, CEAMA, and other leaders of the People of God in the Amazon, Bishop Irineu Roman, CSJ, Metropolitan Archbishop of Santarém and president of the CNBB Northern Region 2, expressed his deep concern over climate forecasts indicating an extraordinary warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean—a phenomenon that could trigger severe droughts across large areas of the Amazon.
This warning comes against the backdrop of the painful experiences of 2024, when a historic drought and wildfires caused serious environmental, social, and health impacts in the region. Thousands of families struggled to access food, water, and basic services, while numerous communities were cut off due to falling river levels.
“The Church cannot remain indifferent,” states Dom Irineu in his message, recalling that prevention is an act of collective responsibility and a concrete expression of care for our Common Home.
A challenge that concerns the entire Amazon region
The effects of another extreme drought could directly impact the lives of millions of people who depend on the Amazon’s rivers for transportation, food, work, and communication. Declining river flows threaten river navigation, artisanal fishing, family farming, and the supply of essential goods in numerous territories.
In this context, the CNBB Northern Region 2 proposes strengthening community debate and action around three fundamental priorities:
- Preventive action, to prepare communities for potential impacts related to pollution, hunger, and transportation difficulties.
- Food sovereignty, promoting resilient agricultural practices capable of ensuring food production under adverse climatic conditions.
- Combating slash-and-burn practices and forest fires, through awareness-raising, community organization, and the protection of Amazonian ecosystems.
Integral ecology and pastoral commitment
This initiative is part of the Amazonian Church’s journey, inspired by the encyclical *Laudato Si’* and the apostolic exhortation *Querida Amazonía*, which call for recognizing the profound interdependence between the protection of ecosystems, the defense of peoples, and the promotion of social justice.
In the face of the challenges posed by the climate emergency, the Church reaffirms its commitment to accompany the most vulnerable communities and to promote a coordinated response involving social organizations, public institutions, and local stakeholders.
The CNBB Northern Region 2 also announced an upcoming virtual meeting to deepen the dialogue and develop joint strategies to address the potential effects of this climate phenomenon.
At a time when the Amazon is once again at the center of global environmental concerns, the Church’s call resonates strongly: preparing today is a concrete way to protect life, territories, and the future of coming generations.