World religions to share values and knowledge at COP28

By Vatican News

Pope Francis met privately with Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, and Ambassador Majid Al-Suwaidi, Director-General and Special Representative of the UAE Presidency for COP28 to discuss preparations and the involvement of faith-based groups in the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

A statement said that during the Audience that took place on Monday, 29 May, “they shared the possibility of launching a joint initiative on climate change in preparation for and on the occasion of the upcoming COP28, in order to involve religious institutions, leaders, and civil society organizations in addressing the goals of COP28.”

The conference will convene from 30 November to 12 December 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The focus of the Summit is “Protecting global food systems”.

Joint initiative

The initiative discussed in the Vatican will call on all religious institutions, leaders, and civil society organizations worldwide to unite towards achieving the shared goal of protecting the Earth, our common home.

The statement reveals “It aims to build on the role of religions in bridging communication between nations, cultures, and individuals, and opening new horizons for climate action,” and explains it will be “driven by the firm conviction of the important role of religious leaders and institutions in driving practical solutions to address the detrimental consequences of climate change.”

Interfaith Pavillion

During the Audience, the possibility of creating an interfaith and intercultural dialogue pavilion at COP28 was also considered.

This space would reportedly be dedicated to sharing knowledge, would serve as a platform for dialogue between religions and cultures, and would highlight the crucial role of religious perspectives and values in addressing the climate crisis.