Dr Joshy V. Cherian

Why are you interested in the ecology?
You don’t happen to get interested in ecology. You have to be interested, because you are part of the ecology. We have the responsibility to ensure and maintain ecological balance. It is not a question of interest; it is a question of your survival.

How do you see the ecological situation in the global world?
Today, one of the major challenges that we are facing is climate change. Climate change happens because of emissions that cause greenhouse effect. Greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from the sun is absorbed by greenhouse gases and not reflected back into space. This insulates the surface of the earth and prevents it from freezing. Greenhouse is a phenomenon that is unique to the Earth. We use the greenhouse effect of solar radiation even at a very local level by creating greenhouses. That is now in use for artificial or hightech agriculture. We make a structure and cover the structure with glass or similar plastic material. The sun’s radiation warm up the plants and the air inside the greenhouse. The heat trapped inside can’t escape, and so warms up the greenhouse, which is essential for the growth of the plants. Same is the case with the earth’s atmosphere. During the day the sun heats up the earth’s atmosphere. At night, when the earth cools down, the heat is radiated back into the atmosphere. During this process, heat is absorbed by the greenhouse gases contained in the earth’s atmosphere. This is what makes the surface of the earth warmer and makes the survival of living beings on earth possible. Due to increased levels of greenhouse gases caused by various factors, the temperature of the earth has increased to a very high level. This has led to several drastic effects. What has happened is that a lot of solar radiation is trapped and gets converted into heat. This is the basic reason for global warming. The amount of energy that is being trapped is unimaginable. The energy that is trapped in a few minutes is equivalent to the energy that was released by the bomb dropped in Hiroshima. In case of any energy, it has to be expressed in one way or the other. So it warms up the atmosphere, it decreases the evaporation from the sea, it influences the wind in its force and direction.

Does it affect climate as a whole?
Yeah, it affects the entire climate. The reason for that is the increase in greenhouse gases. What we normally see as a challenge is carbon dioxide. The most common and the most talked about greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. In fact, because it is so common, scientists use it as the benchmark to measure things that warm up the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced every time when anything is burned. Methane is another important villain-gas. One tonne of Methane is equivalent to twenty-one tons of carbon dioxide.

How is Methane produced in the earth?
Forty percent of Methane is produced in the world is from the waste. Wherever waste is dumped, Methane is produced.

How does it create heat?
The problem is not that too much of sun’s heat is reaching the earth, but that too much is being trapped in our atmosphere. So much heat is being kept inside greenhouse earth that the temperature of the earth is shooting up faster than at any previous time in history. In a dump, we see both organic, plastic and other waste are mixed. After few days, the organic waste starts breaking down. There is a lot of moisture respiration happening, because almost eighty percent of organic waste is water. That moisture contained in the wet waste evaporates and displaces all the air with its heat. In the absence of air, carbon gets converted into Methane. That way, a lot of Methane is produced from waste. Methane is thus generated in nature due to unscientific waste management. Another greenhouse gas is Nitrous Oxide. It is a by-product of fertilizer production and use, other industrial processes and the combustion of certain materials. Nitrous Oxide lasts a very long time in the atmosphere. It is normally generated by the use of urea as fertilizer. Fossil fuel and related uses of coal and petroleum are the most important sources of greenhouse gases and black carbon. Agriculture is the second most important source.

What happens as a result of the greenhouse effect?
Climate change impacts the production of water in the atmosphere, which in turn will create violent downpours instead of steady showers when it rains. Hurricanes and typhoons will increase in power, and flooding will become more common. Climate change is raising sea levels and increasing the number of major storms and floods. Very strong repeated cyclones and unusual rains also effects.

What is the world doing to control this greenhouse effect?
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a critical step in slowing the global warming trend. Many governments around the world are working toward this goal. There are several ways in which governments, industries, and individuals can reduce greenhouse gases. We can improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses. We can improve the fuel efficiency of cars and other vehicles. We can also support development of alternative energy sources, such as solar power and biofuels that don’t involve the burning fossil fuels.

Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. Protecting existing forests and planting new ones can help balance greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Changes in farming practices could also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, farms use large amounts of nitrogen-based fertilizers, which increase nitrogen oxide emissions from the soil. Reducing the use of these fertilizers would reduce the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. The way farmers handle animal manure can also have an effect on global warming. When manure is stored as liquid or slurry in ponds or tanks, it releases methane. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vitally important.

How can the government control climate change?
In my opinion, one single step from the part of government can change a lot of things. It is responsible waste management.

You mean we are sending carbon back to nature?
We are sending carbon back to the soil. And plants that grow in the soil get affected by all the pesticides. We are using a lot of poisonous chemicals. These chemicals are coming back to both land and animals, even food and water. Consequently, humans and animals become sick. There then follows related health issues and high hospitals bills. These are all multiple challenges. Looking at it from another angle, we see that there has been a very systematic exploitation of people.

How do you think it will affect the future of mankind and living things on earth?
Due to greenhouse effect, climate change will occur and sea level will rise. And that will create major challenges for all natural resources. This summer, much of Australia has burnt out. That created a lot of carbon and killed a very many animals.

Don’t you think the ecological problem is also a serious ethical problem?
It is a serious ethical problem. Only man can make a difference by bringing about a change in his attitude. There is space for every human being who wants to live fulfilling his need, but not for his greed.

In Catholic moral teaching, very often ecological sins do not appear at all. Why?
The Pope has written the wonderful document Laudato Si. But we are not even looking at it. In another way also we are handicapped. We are talking about farmer’s problems. In the last Synod, Syro-Malabar bishops said farmers are in a big crisis. Their situations have to be improved, but what are we doing towards that end?

Are you suggesting that we have misread the problem?
See, to solve a problem, we have to understand what it is. We have to devise very creative steps to find a solution. We have not made any effort to find solutions.

Whom would you blame for it, the government or someone else?
We are blaming government agencies. We have the central government as well as the local government, and our communities are resourceful and powerful. We have so many engineering colleges and medical colleges. Why are they not addressing the problem of farmers?

Farming has been completely ignored from the scientific world of investigation and study, isn’t it?
We are not spending our resources on it. For meeting energy needs or for finding money, we do things that generate pollution. Studying the problem and finding a solution for it is the need of the time.

What would you suggest?
We have to institutionalize to overcome these challenges.

Do you think that ecological sins must be included in the teaching of Catholic Moral Theology?
Definitely! A hundred percent, as far as I understand the papal teaching. Ecological sin is a serious moral problem. It is very clear that when we damage the eco system, we harm ourselves and others and even future generations too. I have the responsibility to tell what is to be done. While we tell people what to do or not to do, we must also ask ourselves what more we can do.

Do you think the Church should be more proactive about ecology?
Not only for ecology, but for every serious issue that confronts us, the Church should be more proactive. We have to generate solutions, creative solutions aimed at better environment and at sustainable farming techniques.

Are you working on waste management?
Not only waste management, we are working on wonderful solutions for rebuilding and reusing resources. We are now occupied in a water harvesting program.

How do you see Laudato Si of Pope Francis?
That is a very clear message from the magisterium to the people. We should not only respect but also get involved in creating a very natural environment.

Do you think that the Kerala Church or even the Indian Church has seriously read and studied the issue and are conscientizing people about it?
Sadly, we have not done any serious home work on this matter.

Why do you think that they are not doing anything?
I don’t know whether I am right or not, the policies and priorities of the churches are different. I feel this has never been a priority for the Church.

Do you think the government also is seriously concerned about it?
According to my opinion, the central and local governments are not. I don’t think they are really trying to find solutions for the problems we face.

Even waste management is not properly and scientifically done, at least in cities?
Yes, we have become very selfish. There is no point in pointing out a problem repeatedly without seeking a solution.

Is corruption the cause of it?
The implementation of solutions has been thwarted due to multiple reasons. I would say corruption is one of the reasons. Most of the decision making people in the waste management department are not looking for solutions. They are looking for lucrative confusion.

As an ethical person, what is your assessment of the looming ecological disaster? What is your impression and what are your fears?
Unless we look at it very seriously and seek meaningful solutions in a very responsible manner, we will get wiped out from the face of he earth. We will encounter a major disaster to that effect within a very short time.