International webinar on climate change – ING

Udalguri (India). On 15 March 2025, the Auxilium College in Udalguri, of Mother of the Church Province (ING), held an international webinar on the theme: “Students’ Response to Climate Change: Think Globally, Act Locally.”

The webinar, coordinated by Sister Neli Pfuzümei Lolia Annie, by the Principal, Sister Maheo Athisa Roslyn, Vice Principal Dr. Ahungshi Leiyami Georgina, and the team of teachers and students, aimed to raise awareness and encourage students to take action against climate change.

The webinar started with a warm welcome and an introduction by the speakers, Prof. Pimion Narzari, Professor of the Department of Political Science and Prof. Sanrabhi Daimari, Professor of the Department of Zoology. The assembly was then led by Ms. Mayaboti Basumatary, from the Department of Education, who invoked divine guidance and wisdom in addressing the critical issue of climate change.

Guwahati’s ING Provincial, Sister Mabel Gothorp, then conveyed her message, underlining the significance of the theme and urging collective action to mitigate climate change, in particular by supporting local life, the community, and the ecosystem with actions, language, and pathways to contribute to the global climate. She also made a special appeal to the young, digital natives, to take personal responsibility for spreading environmental awareness and living in an ecological way, to make a difference today and for future generations.

Father Thohrii Joseph, Vice Dean of St. Joseph’s College, Ukhrul, Manipur, speaker of the event, then gave an engaging PowerPoint presentation on the causes and impacts of climate change. It was enriched by practical implications based on lived experience and with several tangible examples of serious and widespread environmental consequences. Included were: severe drought, melting glaciers, rising sea level, Increased frequency and severity of natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, floods, adverse effects on human health such as cancer, incurable diseases, and allergies, etc.  Father Joseph spoke of the urgency of preserving the environment, recalling that “the forest is our lifeline” and stressed the need for “plastic-free zones”.

He concluded the session by urging students to take responsibility for addressing climate change, with particular emphasis on the importance of “Thinking globally and acting locally”, urging them to be “Agents” and “Environmental Activists” making informed choices in everyday life to reduce their carbon footprint, for a better world and climate system.

Initial inputs were followed by an interactive session, in which participants from around the world dialogued with Father Joseph, appreciating the opportunity, and sharing their concerns, ideas, and experiences related to climate change. The discussion provided further clarification and perspectives on the subject.

The webinar ended with final thanks to Father Thohrii Joseph, the Provincial, the organizers of Auxilium College in Udalguri for the harmony of the themes with the signs of the times, and to all participants for their active commitment and contributions to the debate, who helped make the event a success by encouraging them to become active agents of change in addressing the climate emergency.