Muslim Council of Elders Announces Launch of Council's "Environmental Preservation Charter" in Conjunction with COP28

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders has emphasized the collective responsibility of the entire world towards climate change and its detrimental impacts. These include devastating fires, health hazards, loss of crops, disruption of daily life, and significant material and human losses that pose a serious threat to human life on this planet, warning of an imminent collapse.

During his speech at the International Meeting 'The Audacity of Peace' organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio in Berlin, in a session titled "Facing the Reality of Climate Change,".

Judge Abdelsalam stated that it is imperative for us to engage in collective thinking and dialogue about our shared responsibilities towards our planet and the challenges it currently faces, especially the challenge of climate change.

He underscored the importance of mutually benefiting from all experiences and endeavors in addressing climate change and working together to mitigate its effects for the sake of our lives on this Earth and the future of our children and grandchildren.

Judge Abdelsalam expressed his pride in participating in the twentieth forum of the Community of Sant'Egidio, highlighting its high level of discourse on peace, which is a humanitarian imperative.

He particularly emphasized the contribution of religions and cultures in enhancing their capacities for dialogue, and in establishing traditions of understanding and cooperation on common humanitarian issues.

Judge Abdelsalam pointed out that the invitation extended to the Muslim Council of Elders to participate in the twenty-eighth session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), hosted by the United Arab Emirates this year, marks a new phase in strengthening the presence of religious and moral discourse in intellectual and institutional initiatives to address climate change.

The Council will sponsor the Faith Pavilion at COP28, the first of its kind in the history of COP conferences. This pavilion will serve as a global platform for religious participation and interfaith dialogue on environmental matters, aiming to amplify the voice of the moral and spiritual conscience of the world.

It also seeks to strengthen the proposal capacities of religious leaders in refining the decisions of the Conference of the Parties on climate change, and in formulating more ambitious and effective measures to address the multi-dimensional effects of climate change on global peace and stability. 

This initiative will also involve engaging religious institutions and leaders in plans to confront various global challenges faced by humanity, including achieving environmental justice.

The Secretary-General further explained that the Muslim Council of Elders, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, has extended invitations to all religious institutions, civil society organizations, and esteemed religious and community figures, to participate in the Faith Pavilion.

The pavilion will witness the participation of representatives from various religions and cultures worldwide, including the involvement of youth, women, and indigenous populations. This initiative aims to create opportunities for communication and collaboration among countries in the global south.