Ahead of the COP28 summit between political leaders of the world, the Muslim Council of Elders in partnership with the COP28 Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Catholic Church, and under the patronage of the UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, organized a Global Faith Leaders Summit convening 28 faith leaders to address climate change.[1] The two-day summit, held on 6 - 7 November 2023, was hosted in Abu Dhabi gathering different faith leaders with climate experts to fight climate change.[2][3]
Proceedings
editThe summit was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, and Hindu leaders, along with representatives of other major religious traditions, joined in the appeal, to sign the Confluence of Conscience: Uniting for Planetary Resurgence.[4][5] This document commits to addressing climate change and raising climate ambitions ahead of COP28, held in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023.[6] All leaders in the summit walked a path representing the equator and performed planting of a ghaf tree – the national tree of the UAE – before signing the document, known as the "Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement", and addressing the audience.[7][8]
Attendees
edit
The 28 faith leaders who attended this summit and signed the Statement are:[9]
- Professor Mohamed Al-Duwaini, Deputy of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, representing the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, representing Pope Francis
- Husain Burhanuddin, representing Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Sultan of the Dawoodi Bohra Community[10][11]
- Shinkai Kori, Chief High Priest Of Nenbutsushu Sampozan Muryojuji Temple
- Patriarch Bartholomew The First, Ecumenical Patriarch Of Constantinople
- Maulen Ashimbayev, Head of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions
- Dharma Master Hsin Tao, Founder of the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society
- Father Grigoriy Matrusov, representing Patriarch Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'
- Satpal Singh Khalsa, Head of the Religious and Spiritual Authority for the Sikh Religion in the Western Hemisphere
- Mahabrahmarishi Shri Kumar Swami, President of the World Humanity Parliament
- Swami Amritaswarupananda, Head Disciple of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi[12]
- Acharya Lokesh Muni, Founder of the Vishwa Shanti Kendra
- Sheikh-Ul Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Grand Mufti of the Caucasus
- Sister Maureen Goodman, Director of Brahma Kumaris in the United Kingdom
- General Bishop Anba Ermia, President of The Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
- Sheikh Rishama Sattar Jabar Hilo, Head of the Mandean-Sabeans in Iraq and the World
- Archbishop Julio Murry of the Anglican Church of Central America, representing Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Mor Ignatius Aphrem The Second, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East
- Reverend Jerry Pillay, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches
- Doctor Mohammed Cholil Nafis, President of the Indonesian Ulema Council
- Rabbi Moshe Lewin, Vice President of the Conference Of European Rabbis
- Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community
- Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Leader of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha
- Chief Rabbi David Rosen, International President of Religions for Peace
- Dr. Salem Bin Mohammed Al Malik, Director General of The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, And Cultural Organization
- Bishop Thomas Schirrmacher, Secretary-General of the World Evangelical Alliance
- Debra Boudreaux, CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
- Tokita Hozumi representing Rev. Kōō Okada Spiritual Guide of Sukyo Mahikari[13][14]
Faith Pavilion
editDuring the COP28 summit in the month of December, a Faith Pavilion will be hosted by Muslim Council of Elders, in cooperation with COP28, United Nations Environment Programme, and a Coalition of over 70 organizations. This pavilion will allow religious leaders to launch initiatives and present ideas that will help different nations and people fight climate change.[15]
References
edit- ^ "UAE to host global climate summit for faith leaders ahead of COP28". Arab News. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "UAE set to host global faith summit on climate action ahead of COP28 - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Faith leaders unite in urgent call for climate action in Abu Dhabi". Arabian Business.
- ^ "Global faith leaders unite to declare support for urgent climate action at COP28". AlArabiya news.
- ^ Chauhan, Shivani (8 November 2023). "Interfaith Summit United in Call for Climate Action Ahead of COP28". BNN Breaking. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "2023 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28)". International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Archived from the original on 2 January 2020.
- ^ Abdulla, Nasreen. "Abu Dhabi: Powerful interfaith document promising climate change signed by 28 faith leaders". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Global faith leaders call for urgent action on climate change - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Faith Leaders Deliver Climate Message to COP28 President - TECHx Media". 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin stresses heightened ecological sensitivity & interdependence at the Global Faith Summit in Abu Dhabi". The Dawoodi Bohras. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Address by Shahzada Husain Burhanuddin during COP28 UAE Global Faith Leaders Summit in Abu Dhabi, retrieved 11 November 2023
- ^ "Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri Addresses Urgent Climate Action at Global Faith Leaders' Summit". India Education | Latest Education News | Global Educational News | Recent Educational News. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "COP28 UAE | COP28 Presidency receives 'Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement for COP28' at Global Faith Leaders' Summit". www.cop28.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Ahead of COP28, Global Faith Leaders Unite in Fraternity to Sign an Interfaith Document Addressing the Climate Crisis | Advent Messenger". 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ "Faith Pavilion at COP28 will unite everyone to tackle climate change head-on: UAE minister". The Times of India. 19 August 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 November 2023.