{"id":22081,"date":"2021-12-21T09:29:12","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T09:29:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highatlasfoundation.org\/?p=22081"},"modified":"2021-12-21T09:29:12","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T09:29:12","slug":"interfaith-actions-at-cop26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-haf.ddev.site\/interfaith-actions-at-cop26\/","title":{"rendered":"Interfaith Actions at COP26"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Sarah Whiteside, UVA-HAF Intern<\/p>\n

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Link to Image: https:\/\/disasterdisplacement.org\/disaster-displacement-at-cop26<\/a><\/p>\n

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The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more popularly known as COP26, began on November 3rd and was a collaborative conference among 197 nations to address progress made in the first five years of the 2015 Paris Agreement. In this agreement, participating countries committed to efforts in attempts to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5\u2103 above pre-industrial levels.<\/p>\n

Many climate change experts cite COP26 as the last chance to influence the future of our planet and to enact significant changes with the potential to mitigate climate change. Although some religious leaders believe faith groups have no influence in climate change discussions, many share the idea that religious leaders can contribute a powerful voice to the future of our environment through their participation in climate change discussions and policies.<\/p>\n

Prior to COP26, Pope Francis invited 40 religious leaders to the Vatican to engage in discussions regarding the urgency of climate change and the role of faith traditions in this environmental and humanitarian emergency; faith groups represented in these discussions included those of Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and both Sunni and Shia Islam, according to Al Jazeera News. At this meeting, Pope Francis gave the stage to these various religious leaders, opening the floor for discussion to Sheikh Ahmed, a young Muslim leader who encouraged Muslims to answer the call of faith in response to climate change.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Patriarch Hilarion, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, proposed that \u201cthe current ecological situation has been caused, among other factors, by the desire of some to profit at the expense of others\u201d (Al Jazeera News, 2021). As a result, it is the responsibility of everyone that has contributed to this crisis to work towards mitigating its effects.<\/p>\n

Moreover, at COP26, individuals from all faith groups assembled online and at George Square, Glasgow – where the conference was being held – to pray for the success of the conference and cooperation among the nations in efforts to slow climate change. Additionally, the Glasgow Multifaith Declaration for COP26 was presented at the conference, followed by prayers from various religious leaders. The declaration pledge commitment to the following endeavors regarding faith and climate change:<\/p>\n