MCE Co-Organizes Global Summit of Religious Leaders for Climate Next Month

Under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Caucasus Muslims' Board (CMB), in collaboration with the Muslim Council of Elders, the COP29 Presidency, and Azerbaijan's State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is organizing the Global Summit of Religious Leaders for Climate in Baku. The summit is part of Azerbaijan's preparations for hosting COP29 and will gather over 300 government representatives, senior UN officials, leaders of international organizations, prominent global religious leaders, scholars, and environmental experts from around the world.

The summit, held under the theme “World Religions for a Green Planet,” aims to emphasize the central role that religions play in global efforts to address climate change. It will highlight a unified stance among global and traditional religious leaders who stand against wars and environmental destruction and advocate for peaceful conflict resolution. The summit will also serve as a platform for dialogue among experts, academics, political and religious leaders, and representatives from public and international organizations. Discussions will focus on urgent modern challenges—particularly wars and environmental crises—to promote international cooperation in tackling climate change and to issue a united call to curb environmental disasters and uphold world peace. This collective vision calls for ending violence, reducing arms, and protecting our planet from environmental threats.

Over the course of two days, the summit will address several key issues, including religious perspectives on climate change, the role of social media and faith communities in protecting the environment, and building trust through interreligious dialogue. It will also explore the harmful impact of terrorism, religious and racial intolerance, hate incitement, and wars on the environment, peaceful communities, and natural ecosystems.

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, noted that the summit, scheduled for November 5-6 in Baku, represents the Council’s ongoing commitment to promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue to build a world of greater understanding, harmony, and sustainability. He highlighted the crucial role that religious leaders can play in addressing global challenges, especially climate change, and praised Azerbaijan’s leadership, under President Ilham Aliyev, in advancing interfaith and intercultural dialogue. He added that Azerbaijan's initiatives have fostered a society that values peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and mutual dialogue, offering an inspiring model for fostering understanding and peace.