Faith leaders including Dalai Lama urge global leaders to ratify COP 21 commitments

DHARAMSHALA, April 19: A coalition of religious leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and common people from around the world have urged global diplomats to ratify and put into practice their commitments from the COP 21 Paris meet citing eminent need of global cooperation in tackling the climate crisis.

A statement signed by more than 80 groups and 3,600 individuals of Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim faith, the head of the World Council of Churches and several Catholic cardinals was initiated by pro-climate change religious organizations.

The statement was submitted in New York on Monday (April 18) to the U.N. climate Chief Christiana Figueres who lauded the effort saying the initiative was “holistic, equitable, but above all, ambitious climate action.”

The statement called for the reduction of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. It also called for 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 and funding to help developing nations adapt to the hazards of a changing climate such as drought, extreme heat, dangerous storms, and rising sea levels.

Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of Green Faith, a New Jersey based pro-environment interfaith coalition, told reporters, “The time for action is not five years from now. It’s not 10 years from now. It’s now. I think that is our request and our deep desire, more than anything else, that our leaders lead.”

Earlier last year, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, acknowledging the role of religious figures in mobilizing people’s contribution and involvement, mentioned that Pope Francis and other faith leaders reminded the world that “we have a moral responsibility to act in solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable who have done least to cause climate change and will suffer first and worst from its effects.”

The initiative is timed in tune with the signing ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 22 April by global leaders for the historic climate agreement that was reached upon in Paris in December last year. The day also coincides with the commemoration of International Mother Earth Day, also known as Earth Day.

In December 2014 at the COP 21 meet in Paris, 196 countries adopted the agreement and 130 of those nations have announced their intent to attend the ceremony. Key carbon emitters like the US and China are also expected to sign the agreement.