PreCOP28 Religious Leaders Summit - Spiritual Awakening to safeguard Environment

The Global Religious Leaders Summit recently concluded in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. In anticipation of the upcoming 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 28 religious leaders from around the world convened to discuss how to leverage the influence of religious communities to address the climate crisis. They collectively signed a document known as the “Gathering Conscience: Uniting for the Revival of the Earth," also referred to as the "Abu Dhabi Interfaith Declaration.” The declaration calls for action through energy transition to achieve the goal set in the Paris Agreement, limiting global warming to within 1.5°C. Furthermore, it urges inclusive dialogue between religious leaders and diverse groups including the scientific community during and after COP28, aiming to establish a strengthened alliance for sustainable development.

During his speech at the signing ceremony of the joint statement, COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber emphasized that this declaration, representing a coalition of signatures, brings together diverse faiths and demonstrates that people can unite for the common goal of climate action even in a divided world. The summit was jointly organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, the COP28 Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Vatican. Religious leaders in attendance included His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, representing His Holiness Pope Francis; His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew The First, Ecumenical Patriarch Of Constantinople, representing the Eastern Orthodox spiritual leader; and other globally renowned religious figures. Six religious leaders were invited to deliver speeches during the signing ceremony of the statement.

Master Hsin Tao, founding abbot of the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society (LJM), served as one of the six speakers to represent Buddhist leaders at the signing ceremony. In his address, he began by expressing gratitude for the conference's openness to diverse voices and for fostering connections across various fields of wisdom, recognizing the power of religion. Master Hsin Tao stated that the common bond among religions is spirituality, the foundation that allows different faiths to unite and work together to save the environment. To achieve ecological sustainability, he emphasized the need to address the root cause, which he referred to as spiritual ecology, asserting that “spirituality is ecology, and ecology is spirituality.” He underscored the importance of spiritual awakening, urging an understanding that humans and the environment form a diverse, interdependent, mutually supportive community of life. Recognizing the ethics of ecology, he concluded that “by respecting the value of different species' existence, embracing each other's living space, and collectively contributing to a shared world, we can achieve a harmonious coexistence.”

For many years, Master Hsin Tao has dedicated himself to world peace and environmental conservation. In 2001, he founded the World Religions Museum as a platform for inter-religious communication and has organized numerous dialogues for peace among different faiths. Invited to participate in the summit, he reunites with old friends, including international religious leaders and scholars, to collaboratively discuss strategies for addressing climate change and the global crisis. This gathering holds significant meaning. Currently, he is involved in the preparation of the University of Life and Peace in Myanmar, focusing on ecological systems and sustainable education, aiming to extend spiritual ecology into various fields and nurture future environmental guardians. He invites everyone to join this effort, uniting the spiritual energies of various religions to resonate and safeguard ecological sustainability.

The COP28 is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023. It will mark the first comprehensive global review and assessment of the progress toward the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the conference will witness a groundbreaking development as it hosts the inaugural "Faith Pavilion," a dedicated exhibition space for religious groups at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The event aims to encourage communication and dialogue between youth religious leaders from different generations and representatives of indigenous communities.