By Prof.Dr.Mathew Koshy Punnackadu – Environmental Advisor to the CSI  and Director of the CSI MKD Department of Ecological Concerns

Have you ever heard of Munroe Island (Munrothuruthu) in Kerala? Today, it stands as a beautiful yet heartbreaking reminder that climate change isn’t a distant future threat—it is a painful, present-day reality.

On World Environment Day (June 5th), the Ecological Team of the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese undertook a crucial study tour to the island to witness the impacts of climate change firsthand. Led by Bishop Dr. Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian, fifty selected participants from various parts of the Diocese spent the day studying the ground realities of this ecological crisis.

Watch the video here

The study tour was officially inaugurated by Mr. N. K. Premachandran M.P.

Our team arrived during low tide, but the scars on the landscape were unmistakable. We learned that during high tide, water relentlessly forces its way into houses in the low-lying areas. Because of this constant inundation, more than 100 houses have already been abandoned as their owners were forced to migrate to safer places.

Here is how an island born out of human ingenuity became a global symbol of climate injustice.

• The Legacy of “Progress”. Named after Colonel John Munro, the British Resident and Diwan of Travancore in the early 19th century, this island was once an engineering marvel. Under his supervision, wetlands where the Kallada River meets Ashtamudi Lake were reclaimed, and extensive canal networks were built.
• For decades, Munroe Island was a hub of prosperity:
  • • Flourishing coconut plantations generated massive revenue.
    • These resources historically helped fund and maintain cherished institutions like CMS College, Kottayam (one of India’s oldest centers of higher learning).
    • It stood as a proud symbol of agricultural productivity and human development.
• The Tipping Point. While environmental changes had been brewing for decades, the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami accelerated the devastation. Since then, the island has been locked in a losing battle with nature.

Today, the daily reality for residents includes:

• Recurrent flooding during high tides that swallows homes and public spaces.
• Salinization of soil, destroying the once-famed agricultural lands.
• Contaminated wells, leaving families without clean drinking water.

A Living Witness to Climate Injustice

The most tragic part? The people of Munroe Island contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are bearing the heaviest consequences. This is the very definition of climate injustice.

Because of shrinking livelihoods and sinking land, families are abandoning their ancestral homes, leading to a steadily declining population. The island has practically become a living laboratory of climate change.

A Global Moral Responsibility

The story of Munroe Island challenges all of us—policymakers, scientists, citizens, and faith communities alike. Action by groups like the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese reminds us that caring for creation is a profound moral obligation.

We must acknowledge a painful truth: those who suffer most from the climate crisis are often those who did the least to cause it. Munroe Island’s future isn’t just a local issue in Kerala; it is a global moral responsibility.