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Dozens of religious leaders have called on governments to commit to ambitious goals at the upcoming UN Climate Conference, which scientists describe as the last chance to take meaningful action to stop global warming before it is too late.
On Monday, imams, rabbis, patriarchs, and pastors responded to the call for emergency climate action. They shared how their faith and tradition explained the emergency. Many people insisted that religion and science must act together to save the planet.
“Faith and Science: A Call to COP26” is in October 31st to November 12th Summit In Glasgow, Scotland, experts call this a chance for success or failure to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Sheikh Ahmed Tayeb, the Great Imam of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt, said: “I call on all young people, regardless of their religious beliefs, to be prepared to fight against any damage to the environment or aggravation of the climate. Crisis actions.”.
For religious leaders, caring for the environment is a moral imperative for future generations to protect the planet and support communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Several participants emphasized that no country can act alone.
“If a country sinks, we will all sink,” said Rajwant Singh, a Sikh leader from the United States.
“Water is the father, air is the teacher, and the earth is our common mother. Just as we don’t humiliate our mothers, fathers and teachers-why should we humiliate these gifts from our creator?”
‘A lot of financial support’
Approximately 40 religious leaders gathered in the Vatican in Rome to participate in a meeting convened by Pope Francis before the COP26 meeting. Leaders representing Sunni and Shiite Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, Sikhism and other major faith groups attended the meeting.
“We have inherited a garden; we cannot leave a desert to our children,” the people who gathered signed an appeal before handing the desert to Alok Sharma, the head of the COP26 meeting.
In their appeals, religious figures urged political leaders to take measures to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and provide “substantial financial support” to the most vulnerable communities in the rich countries that are most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.
Bishop Frederick Shoo, chairman of the Tanzanian Lutheran Church, quoted Martin Luther to describe his mission of planting trees on Mount Kilimanjaro, which earned him the nickname “Bishop of Trees”.
“Even if I know I will die tomorrow… I will plant a tree today,” Xu said, recounting Luther who broke away from the Catholic Church in the 16th century.
‘Heal our home’
Pope Francis originally planned to read a lengthy speech, but only briefly welcomed him, and then let others speak, first of all, Sheikh Ahmed. He urged young Muslims and religious scholars to “fulfil their religious duties” by taking responsibility for this crisis.
Istanbul Patriarch Bartholomew called for continued dialogue because he signed a joint appeal with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Hilarion, who in a two-minute speech called for repentance for all the damage that has been done.
Hilaryon said: “It should be remembered that the current ecological situation is caused by some people’s desire to profit at the expense of others and the unfair desire to get rich.”
The appeal urged governments to adopt plans as soon as possible to take the lead in achieving net zero carbon emissions with richer countries.
“We call on the international community gathered at COP26 to take swift, responsible and common action to protect, restore and heal our injured human beings and the homes entrusted to us to manage.”
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