Religions for Peace

Religions for Peace focuses on advancing peace through protecting the earth by:

• Issuing statements on multi-religious warrants for linking global warming and threats to peace.
• Providing solidarity for the Religions for Peace network members in situations where environmental degradation is a threat to peace.
• Addressing global warming through research and advocacy.

CLIMATE WEEK
20–26 September 2009

Religions for Peace, the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition, is taking the lead on ensuring that the voices of the religious communities are heard before, during, and after Climate Week. Drawing on their faith traditions, religious leaders and communities around the world have been at the forefront of protecting our earth.

From 20–26 September 2009, New York was the stage for Climate Week—a massive gathering of government officials, business leaders, artists, academics and concerned citizens drawing concerted attention to one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. Just seventy days before the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Climate Week strongly urged world leaders and decision-makers to secure a fair, binding, and sustainable agreement in Copenhagen. See www.climateweeknyc.org and www.tcktcktck.org

Here’s a look at some of the events Religions for Peace was represented at this week.

Global Interfaith Gathering
Calling for Urgent Action by the UN Summit on Climate Change
Monday, 21 September 2009
Church Center, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York

Representatives of diverse religious traditions gathered on the International Day of Peace, to reflect in story, song, prayer and voice about humanity’s collective response to the climate crisis. This multi-religious gathering called on all faith communities to join the religious leaders in their commitment and also to persuade world leaders to take urgent action to stop and reverse the adverse impact of climate change. UNDP Assistant Secretary General Olav Kjorven remarked how moving it was to see such an assorted congregation come together on this issue. The spirit of this kick off event stayed with all in attendance through this Climate Week.

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Climate Week NYC Opening Ceremony
Monday, 21 September 2009
Manhattan Public Library

Religions for Peace’s delegation of international senior religious leaders participated in the Climate Week NYC Opening Ceremony hosted by the Climate Group and Rt. Hon. Tony Blair. An array of global business leaders and policymakers representing some of the world’s most influential companies, cities, states, regions and nations made a series of bold commitments to the Copenhagen Negotiation and specific goals to achieve.

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Reducing Vulnerability, Enhancing Resilience
Monday, 21 September 2009
United Nations Church Center

This program organized by CIDSE and Caritas discussed the critical importance of technology in stopping climate change. Investment and cooperation with the developing world mean little if the most beneficial options for production remain high polluting, fossil fuel based technology. The panel also highlighted adaptation technology to mitigate the effects of climate change and the urgency to not only slow the damage but turn back the tide. Speakers, including Swami Agnivesh representing Religions for Peace, spoke to an audience of diplomats and NGO representatives on the importance of awareness of technology trade in their grassroots efforts on climate change and economic development.

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Jobs, Justice, Climate
Monday, 21 September 2009
New York Society for Ethical Culture

Labor, environmental and youth organizations joined forces at a major public rally on the eve of the annual UN General Assembly high level summit on climate change to demand faster progress on tackling climate change and creating "green" jobs to advance social justice at home and abroad., "Jobs Justice Climate" publicized the grassroots call on world leaders to take decisive action on global warming in a way that reduces emissions, creates jobs and advances social justice.

Guests included Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights; Mohamed Nasheed, President of The Maldives, legendary folk artist Judy Collins and singer-songwriter Kaki King.

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UN Millennium Campaign Seal a Just Deal
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Helmsley Hotel

This unique platform for dialogue featured Environmental Ministers from Indonesia and Nigeria. The focus of the event was poverty and development, specifically the connection between the MDGs and climate change. Speakers pointed out that development, which includes climate change, is about justice and gets frequent mention in the religious eco-literature. They promoted an idea that richer countries have historically polluted the most and an agreement in Copenhagen must find an enforceable way to get them to emit less while encouraging clean industrialization in the developing world. This rally targeted citizens of wealthier countries to teach them how to lobby their governments more effectively on this issue.

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High Level Consultation of Senior Religious Leaders, Government Representatives and Representatives of the United Nations
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
British Consulate-General

Religions for Peace, in partnership with the Global Campaign for Climate Action (GCCA) held a conference of senior religious leaders on September 23 to advocate to governments the importance of dealing with Climate Change hosted by the British Consulate General. A broad-based multi-religious delegation with senior religious leaders, representing major faiths - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous, Islam and Judaism - from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America spoke and took questions from with policy makers and media advocating a fair, ambitious and binding agreement that secures climate justice for all in Copenhagen. The Consultation explained the disproportionate impact of climate change on the poor in the global south and highlighted the benefits of partnership with religious groups when dealing with this issue.

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Multi-stakeholder Roundtable Discussion: “Climate Change – What needs to be done now?”
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Helmsley Hotel

Religions for Peace’s delegation of international senior religious leaders participated in a two-hour high-level, multi-stakeholder round table discussion event to discuss outcomes from the UN Climate Summit on September 22 and the way forward for the G20 in Pittsburgh. The open forum style offered a unique opportunity for a frank discussion between senior policy-makers and civil society experts. The panel discussed very specific policy details on climate change and how to pass legislation in the UN and state governments.

Hosted by the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) and the Tck Tck Tck campaign, the discussion was moderated by H.E. Ms. Mary Robinson, the former President of Ireland. The keynote speaker was Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Ms. Gunilla Carlsson.

For more information on these events or regarding Religions for Peace work on the environment, please contact Ms. Deepika Singh, Director of Program Coordination, at DSingh@religionsforpeace.org.