WelCom February 2024
Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar gave video addresses to COP28, which was held in December in Dubai, and signed a declaration of support for urgent climate action.
In their video messages to delegates at the inauguration of the first Faith Pavilion at COP28, Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb spoke of the urgency and hope for robust climate action.
The Faith Pavilion brings interfaith cooperation to a global stage with the aim of inspiring firm commitments on climate change.
The Pope and Grand Imam also signed the Interfaith Statement on Climate Action for COP28, which indicates a commitment to take decisive action to address the climate emergency and is signed by faith leaders from across the world.
In the statement, faith leaders call on heads of state, governments, civil society and business leaders to respond urgently to the crisis by actions including the acceleration of energy transitions, transition to circular models of living in harmony with nature and rapid adoption of clean energy.
The statement was drafted by faith leaders ahead of COP28 at the Global Faith Leaders Summit, which was held in Abu Dhabi in November.
In his video address, Pope Francis said: ‘Today, the world needs alliances that are not against someone, but for the benefit of everyone. Let us, as religious representatives, set an example to show that change is possible, to demonstrate respectful and sustainable lifestyles, and let us fervently ask the leaders of nations to preserve our common home.’
Source: The Tablet