INTERFAITH CLIMATE CHANGE STATEMENT TO WORLD LEADERS
Signed by over 250 religious leaders around the world --
Including: The Dalai Lama, Archbishop John Ribat, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Grand Imam Azad, Ven. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, His Holiness Radhanath Swami, The Rev. Martin Junge, Sister True Dedication, Imam Al- Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid.
The Interfaith Climate Change Statement to World Leaders (2016) outlines the positive support, by religious leaders and faith communities, of the adopted Paris Climate Accord.
Statement highlights:
"Humanity is at a crucial turning point. We as faith communities recognize that we must begin a transition away from polluting fossil fuels and towards clean renewable energy sources. It is clear that for many people significant lifestyle changes will have to be made. We must strive for alternatives to the culture of consumerism that is so destructive to ourselves and to our planet.
"We therefore:
Urge governments to rapidly sign, ratify and implement the Paris Agreement, and to increase pledges to reduce emissions in line with keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels;
Insist on rapid emissions reduction and peaking by 2020, in order to keep the 1.5C limit within reach;
Strongly advocate the greater flows of finance, especially for adaptation and loss and damage;
Urge the swift phase out of all fossil fuel subsidies and transition from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy by 2050;
Encourage faith communities to reduce emissions in their homes, workplaces and centres of worship and to support and stand in solidarity with communities already impacted by climate change;
Call for fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment in renewables and low carbon solutions, including within our own communities, and/or by engaging companies on climate change."
List of +200 high-level signatories.
Read the full statement here.
Sign the statement here.
