Church Should Develop New Strategies in Addressing Reliance on Fossil Fuels: Kenyan Catholic Environmentalists

Fr. Mbaro underlined the need for the Church to develop new strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels, saying, “Many of our parish and church institutions still rely on outdated energy sources.”

“With this treaty in place, now is the time to develop new strategies. Perhaps we should start thinking about adopting electric vehicles, though that may be in the future”, the Kenyan Priest said.

Fr. Mbaro pointed to the importance of education in adopting adjustments in energy use, particularly at the grassroots level. “Many people may not yet be fully informed about these changes,” he explained.

“Many people may not yet be fully informed about these changes, but once we reach the grassroots level and start teaching people about the shift to renewable energy, we will see significant progress,” he said during the September 20 interview.

He added, “We are fortunate that the Church is well-structured, with organs such as the Small Christian communities, ecclesial groups, and movements that can help spread this message.”

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Acknowledging the Church’s structure which he said provides an opportunity for widespread education and action, Fr. Mbaro highlighted the role of groups such as the Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) that he said promote the principles of the Church’s social teaching.

He said that care for the environment must be a central part of the mission of JPCs.

He emphasized that the commission is “a key vehicle for delivering this message” to the grassroots level, particularly through Small Christian Communities (SCCs).

Fr. Mbaro urged the commission to utilize the Season of Creation, observed from September 1 to October 4, to educate congregations about climate change and integrate the treaty into broader discussions on environmental responsibility.

Ferdinand Omondi, the Communication Manager for Greenpeace Africa, echoed Fr. Mbaro’s sentiments, noting the importance of lay groups, associations, and SCCs in spreading information about environmental conservation.

The Kenyan Catholic environmentalist who focuses on environmental protection suggested that Sunday sermons in Catholic Parishes and outstations partly focus on the love for the environment and the dangers of fossil fuels.

Mr. Omondi lauded faith leaders' move to endorse the treaty in Kenya, saying, “As an environmentalist, I view this treaty as a significant step in environmental protection, especially with interfaith and religious communities joining discussions on climate justice.”

“This treaty is another step toward reinforcing agreements and actions on climate,” he said, and added, “But unless those who sign it commit to aggressively championing its goals, it will become just another signed document in a waiting tray instead of one that drives real change.”

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.