Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Justice Mohamed Abdelsalam, highlights the influence of religious leaders and their role in driving climate action globally at a global religious summit in Abu Dhabi, ahead of of COP28.
By Christopher Wells – Abu Dhabi
The Global Faith Summit being held this week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, seeks to highlight the “harmful impact of climate change” and “the role that religious leaders can play in mobilizing their communities” to advancing the goal of “global climate action together”. », According to Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary general of the Council of Muslim Elders.
Judge Abdelsalam spoke to Vatican News ahead of the World Faith Summit, organized by the MCE, which will take place on November 6-7 ahead of next month’s COP28.
Contribution of religions to climate action
The Global Summit of Religious Leaders on Climate Action brings together important religious figures from around the world “to show the world the vision and contribution of different faiths and religious leaders in the fight against climate change”, explained the judge Abdelsalam.
The recognition that the climate change crisis is “one of the most dangerous crises of our modern times” provided the impetus for the initiative to bring together religious leaders, representatives of communities affected by climate change and even non-believers, “to come”. together to reflect and discuss, and to raise a unified cry against the climate change crisis and to help address this global threat to humanity.
Role of religious leaders
“Religious leaders and religious leaders around the world are influential and play a very important role in driving climate action globally,” Justice Abdelsalam said. It is precisely because climate change poses a global threat that “collective action, a unified stance and solidarity among all communities – especially among religious leaders” are necessary.
He outlined actions that religious leaders can take to promote positive climate action, particularly the ability to raise awareness in their own faith communities, focus on humanity, and put humanity at the top of the global agenda. human action – “because when we put the interests of human communities around the world first, we can achieve better goals to address this climate crisis.
Justice Abdelsalam noted that “all religions have called for caring for the environment and the earth,” as they all share “the concept of stewardship and care for our common home.”
Religious leaders, he added, have “the ethical and religious responsibility and duty…to guide communities, take the initiative and set an example for them to be united against this global threat and also to leave a viable legacy for future generations.
The Pope and the Grand Imam
Judge Abdelsalam singled out Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, as religious leaders who provided “an inspiring example and role model to many religious leaders around the world, not only through interreligious dialogue”, but also build “a true partnership between their religious communities”. And they have inspired other leaders and religious figures around the world to join this journey of building friendship and building and working side by side, very closely, to address the challenges facing all of humanity. entire is confronted.
Following the Document on Human Fraternity and other initiatives, “the Global Summit of Religious Leaders on Climate Change is also the result of their “joint action”.
“They supported this initiative to be an international platform bringing together all religious and traditional leaders from around the world to think together, reflect, share their vision and send a global message from religious leaders to political leaders who will meet at COP28. »
“This trip between the Pope and the Grand Imam constitutes a real example at the global level,” said Judge Abdelsalam, “and I think it has not been very well taken into account by the scientific research community in the world. global level, because this This phenomenon must be studied and reproduced because it contributes to saving all of humanity.
The Pope at COP28: exceptional, extraordinary, unprecedented
Asked about the Pope’s decision to attend COP28 in person, Judge Abdelsalam described Pope Francis’ participation as “exceptional and extraordinary and unprecedented in the history of COP28”, which constitutes “the culmination of the journey started by Pope Francis in the fight against climate”. crisis of change.
He also said it was a mark of the Pope’s support for the expected outcomes of COP28 and his hope “that this edition of the COP will be different from previous conferences on climate change and climate action.”
The personal presence of Pope Francis at COP 28, Judge Abdelsalam concluded, demonstrates “a conviction on the part of His Holiness as to the urgency of this crisis” and the need for “tangible results and outcomes that we hope the COP28 will produce.”
