All religions and spiritual traditions embrace respect and care for creation. 84% of the world’s population identify with a faith and faith leaders played a key role creating the conditions for the success of COP21 in 2015.
The global temperature has already increased by one degree Celsius above the twentieth century average. With present National Determined Contributions (NDCs), the temperature will rise by 3 degrees, which will be catastrophic for the entire planet – humans, animals, and plants – especially the marginalised and poorest communities.
Faith leaders have a key role in inspiring and mobilising the faithful to address the climate crisis. Through this dialogue series faith leaders will articulate our common duty to address climate change; show how the faiths are leading the way by greening their own operations; and encourage the faithful to take action to slow global temperature rises.
In recognition of the role of faith leaders in tackling this challenge, the British and Italian Embassies to the Holy See, together with the Holy See, and facilitated by Wilton Park, will convene a series of virtual preparatory meetings to enable faith leaders to share their faith’s theology on care for the environment; outline the action they have taken so far in tackling climate change; and discuss the way forward to COP26.
This series of dialogues, culminating in an event to be held in Rome prior to COP26, will provide a platform for faith leaders to articulate our common duty to address climate change, encouraging national governments to raise their ambition regarding their NDCs, to reach the Paris Agreement goals; to show how the faiths are leading the way by greening their own operations at central and local level, and making new commitments; and to encourage the faithful to take action to slow global temperature rises
Partners: The British and Italian Embassies to the Holy See, together with The Holy See.
To read the official press release click here
Wilton Park reference number: WP1888V
Events in this series:
4 February 2021
25 February 2021
25 March 2021
29 April 2021
20 May 2021
10 June 2021
15 July 2021
