Photo: http://peoplesclimate.org/faith/
Dozens of faith leaders from across the globe gathered in New York City on Tuesday to discuss how to engage their constituents in the climate change debate. All acknowledged that religious groups are in a powerful, influential position to push forward climate action in their communities.
“Our political leaders are failing,” said Ajarn Sulak Sivarksa, one of the founders of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. “What sane people would see all of these signs, but not act? We must demonstrate how the world must be.”
The meeting, which took place in a conference room across the street from the United Nations, was part of the two-day Interfaith Summit on Climate Change hosted by the World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace. It included 30-plus leaders from the Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Taoist, and Indigenous communities, among others. Scattered among the crowd were also dozens of parishioners, religious scholars, and reporters.
A key takeaway was the universal faith-based belief that humans have a moral obligation to care for creation, and that human actions are causing irreparable harm to the climate and environment. The leaders also discussed engaging with younger members of their congregations and focusing more on low income and minority communities that would be disproportionately affected by climate impacts.
Several faith leaders concluded the summit by pledging to join the Fast for the Climate campaign, a project started last year that asks participants to fast once a month “to stand in solidarity with those already affected” by climate change.
“Food is a small price to pay for tackling a problem so huge,” one faith leader said to the crowd gathered.