A statement advocating for global action on climate change and expressing worry for its growing impact on the earth was signed by faith leaders from all across the world in Abu Dhabi.
Signed by 28 religious leaders, the Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement for Cop28 “demands transformative action to keep 1.5°C within reach and serve affected and vulnerable communities.”
The 2015 Paris Agreement states that in order to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, the global average temperature should not rise above preindustrial levels by more than 1.5°C.
The signatories in Abu Dhabi stated that they were gathering as “representatives of diverse faith and indigenous traditions” in order to emphasize their “common commitment to jointly address the global crisis, as well as our shared concern for the escalating climate impacts that imperil our cherished planet.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, representing Pope Francis, and Prof. Mohamed Al Duwaini, deputy of Al Azhar Al Sharif, representing the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, were among the signatories.
The document, according to Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President-designate for Cop28, sends a strong message ahead of the conference, when thousands of people—including heads of state, government representatives, business executives, and climate experts—will gather in the United Arab Emirates to assist in delivering a crucial action plan to protect the environment.
“It is a powerful statement of intent that the entire world needs to hear. It was a statement of urgency, unity, solidarity, responsibility and hope,” Dr Al Jaber said in a statement.
According to him, religious leaders have a strong voice in many communities. “You [faith leaders] combine all faiths around a single message of our shared humanity,” he said.
“You are the custodians of the beliefs and aspirations of the vast majority of everyone living on the planet. Your collective faiths continue to inspire all people to live in harmony with nature and to act to protect our fragile world.
“You have brought together diverse faiths around a common goal and have shown that in a divided world, we can unite around climate action.”
Under the auspices of President Sheikh Mohamed, a two-day worldwide faith leaders’ summit took place at Abu Dhabi Energy Centre. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, was present.
Renowned delegates from the world’s primary faiths convened with academics and environmental specialists to discuss faith leaders’ moral obligations in tackling the climate emergency and their potential to galvanize their communities to safeguard the environment.
The conference took place two days after a productive meeting in Abu Dhabi, when a special UN committee on the loss and damage fund established a consensus to assist nations, especially the most vulnerable, in coping with the permanent harm caused by climate change.
“We are one step closer to delivering a fully operational fund. Parties came together in unity and solidarity to show multilateralism can still work for everyone, especially the most vulnerable,” Dr Al Jaber said.
In order to convey from the UAE to the rest of the globe a message of tolerance, peace, optimism, and prosperity, he also urged religious leaders to join him.
Dr. Al Jaber and Pope Francis met in Rome last month to talk about the part religious communities may play in combating climate change. The pope declared that he would attend the world summit in Dubai last week.
The first UN climate meeting to feature a pavilion devoted to including faith communities will be Cop28. Additionally, the pavilion will promote intergenerational conversation between representatives of indigenous people and youth religious leaders.
