Faith leaders urge rapid ratification of Paris Agreement on climate change

They urged its prompt ratification by governments so that it can come into force as soon as possible.

The declaration "outlines religious leaders' and faith communities’ positive judgement of the adopted Paris Agreement" and: 

1.       Urges governments to rapidly sign, ratify and implement the Paris Agreement, and to increase pledges to reduce emissions in line with keeping the global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels

2.       Insists on rapid emissions reduction and peaking by 2020, in order to keep the 1.5C goal within reach

3.       Strongly advocates for greater flows of finance, especially for adaptation and loss and damage

4.       Urges the swift phase out of all fossil fuel subsidies and a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050

5.       Encourages faith communities to reduce emissions in their homes, workplaces and centres of worship and to support and stand in solidarity with communities already impacted by climate change

6.       Calls for fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment in renewables, including within our own communities

 
The statement was signed today in Church Center of the UN followed by a press conference. The Statement also reaffirms the faith community’s support for increased ambition in climate change action and for the commitment to limit the global temperature rise to no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Paris Agreement will be signed on Earth Day (22  April,2016) in New York. 

 

India along with rest of the countries will be present for a high level signing ceremony convened by UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

 

The signatories include twenty religious leaders from India - Swami Agnivesh, President of the World Council of Arya Samaj “Society of Nobles”, Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders; Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, President Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Co-Founder/chair Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder of Art of Living Foundation, Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders; Swami Atmapriyananda, Vice Chancellor of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders; Swamiji Jagadguru Karmayogi Charukeerty Bhattarak, Pontiff of Jain Shravanabelagola Math; Acharya Shri Shrivatsa Goswami, a leading figure in the Vaishnava tradition and Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders; Dr. Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyassi, Chief Imam, All India Organisation of Mosques, Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders.

Other leaders from India are  Dharmacharya Shantum Seth, Ahimsa Trust, Plum Village International Community of Engaged Buddhists, Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, President, National Council of Churches in India, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, President, Federation of Asian Bishops´ Conferences (FABC), Ven. Khandro Rinpoche, Teacher in both the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders, Mata Amritanandamayi, Amma ("Mother"), Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Secretary General, Global Interfaith WASH Alliance; President, Divine Shakti Foundation, Dr..A.K Merchant, Trustee, Lotus Temple and National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is,

The signatories also included Rev. Dr. Solomon Rongpi, General Secretary, Council of Baptist Churches in Northern India,  Radhanath Swami, Swami Chandra,Lieutenant Colonel Dasari Daniel, National Secretary, The Salvation Army,Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, National Council of Churches in India,

Other names are Dr. Wahidudin Khan, Founder of the Islamic Centre - Urdu Islamic Institution, Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders, Dr. Acharya Lokesh Muni Ji, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Director, Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery; Dharmacharya Shantum Seth, Ahimsa Trust, Plum Village International Community of Engaged Buddhists; Gunbir Singh, Chairman, Eco Amritsar;  Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, youngest ever swamiji to ascend the Paryaaya Peetam in Udupi. Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders;Telesphore Placidus Cardinal Toppo, Cardinal Priest and Archbishop of Ranchi in the Roman Catholic Church and Member of the Elijah Board of World Religious Leaders.