Global Summit of Religious Leaders for Climate kicks off

The Global Summit of Religious Leaders for Climate, organized by the Caucasus Muslims’ Board (CMP) in collaboration with the Muslim Council of Elders, the COP29 Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, kicked off this morning in Baku under the patronage of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The summit, themed "Global Religions for a Green Planet," was attended by more than 300 leaders and dignitaries representing various religions, governments and civil society organizations, as well as policymakers from around the world.

During the opening session, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, emphasized that the call to enhance climate action is part of the deep spiritual message of religions, which advocate for mercy, responsibility, and justice towards the Earth and its future generations. He explained that religions were not created in isolation from nature, as the relationship between religion and climate is deeply rooted in sacred texts; it is a relationship of respect for nature, balance with life, and profound responsibility towards everything created by God.

His Excellency Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam added that we have a historic opportunity today to transform the role of religions into an active force in facing the climate crisis. The efforts of religious leaders over the past years have addressed many global challenges, and we have seen how interfaith dialogue has created inspiring initiatives such as the Document on Human Fraternity, the Egyptian Family House, and the Abrahamic Family House, among other leading initiatives and projects that have demonstrated the ability of interfaith dialogue to contribute to finding solutions to the challenges our world faces today.

The General Secretary explained that the significance of organizing today's Global Summit of Religious Leaders for Climate in Azerbaijan lies in the determination to declare our common message and our unified call: the call of the Religious Leaders Summit for Climate to COP29 and to the world; and mobilizing efforts to encourage politicians, decision-makers, and international actors to make decisive decisions to eliminate the risks of climate change. He called for launching a global movement that makes every human being a protector of the Earth and a defender of life, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the integration between science and faith, and between spiritual and environmental knowledge, believing that climate action is not an option, but a necessary imperative to protect the future of our planet.

His Excellency affirmed the Muslim Council of Elders' support for the summit and its goal of unifying the voices of religious leaders and figures in addressing climate challenges. He noted that the Council has a clear vision focused on enhancing the role of religious leaders and figures for climate action. It has formed a global alliance with more than 70 institutions representing most religions and faiths around the world and participated in organizing this summit. Additionally, last year, it organized the Global Faith Summit on Climate Action in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. The summit concluded with the launch of "The Call of Conscience: The Abu Dhabi Interfaith Statement for Climate," signed by 30 of the world's leading religious leaders and figures. The Council also organized the Faith Pavilion at COP28 for the first time in the history of the Conferences of the Parties. It presented the "Islamic Vision for Achieving Environmental Sustainability" about the global duty to protect the environment, among other initiatives, highlighting that the Abu Dhabi summit for religious leaders and the Faith Pavilion at COP28 represented a strong start to enhance the role of religions in facing climate challenges.