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4
Baha’i environmental action plan presented at Windsor Castle event
Filed Under Social action, environment, inter-faith | Leave a Comment
Baha’i delegates Arthur L Dahl and Tahirih Naylor in conversation in Windsor Castle with HRH Prince Philip, ARC Secretary-General Martin Palmer, and UN Secretary-General HE Ban Ki-moon
Is this, as has been suggested, “the biggest civil society movement on climate change in history”?
Representatives of the Bahá’í International Community joined some 200 delegates from nine major faith communities and a range of environmental organisations in Windsor on Monday 2 November and Tuesday 3 November to commit to long-term practical action to save the environment
The three-day event, which concluded today, was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC), which was founded in 1985 by Prince Phillip.
Leading representatives from the Bahá’í, Buddhist, Christian, Daoist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Shinto and Sikh communities announced a huge range of environmental initiatives to help combat the impact of climate change.
At the heart of the gathering was a ceremony in Windsor Castle during which HRH Prince Philip and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented certificates to representatives of 31 faith-based projects, ranging from the development of an Islamic environmental labelling system and the greening of the Hajj – the Muslim pilgrimage – to the Sikh plan to urge gurdwaras – Sikh temples – to recycle, compost, use green energy, use eco-stoves, start rainwater harvesting, purchase reusable plates and cups.
The Bahá’í representatives presented a plan that focuses on using a system of regional training institutes to encourage within the worldwide Bahá’í community “acts of service related to environmental sustainability.”
“Bahá’ís believe that religious belief and spirituality lie at the foundation of human motivation and behaviour,” said Tahirih Naylor, a Bahá’í International Community representative to the United Nations who was one of two Bahá’í delegates to the Windsor event.
“So we believe that efforts to change harmful human behaviour – such those actions that contribute to global warming or environmental degradation – can be greatly facilitated by processes that lead to a better understanding of our own spirituality, and of humanity’s relationship with nature. And it is also from such understanding that action naturally arises.”
In his speech at the Windsor Castle ceremony, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said,, “I have long believed that when governments and civil society work toward a common goal, transformational change is possible. Faiths and religions are a central part of that equation.
“Indeed, the world’s faith communities occupy a unique position in discussions on the fate of our planet and the accelerating impacts of climate change,” said Mr. Ban.
Delegates also met in a series of plenary sessions and workshops at Windsor’s Harte and Garter Hotel to discuss how they can reach a new level of collaboration in the face of global warming, water shortages, deforestation, and other environmental threats.
“Climate change is complex and dealing with it requires us to change at many levels,” said UN Assistant Secretary-General Olav Kjørven on Monday.
“It requires a change of ethos. Religions have an unparalleled ability to reach out to people at the grassroots and to touch hearts and minds. Religious institutions are the third largest actors in international markets. Environmentally friendly purchasing decisions by them would have a huge impact across the world.”
Tony Juniper, special adviser to the Prince of Wales’ Rainforests Project and former executive director of the Friends of the Earth, likewise emphasized the important role that religions can play.
“Scientific rationalism gave rise to good science, which in turn gave rise to strong political arguments for cleaning up the environment,” said Mr. Juniper,
“As a result, governments dealt with acid rain and other environmental threats. But these changes were only superficial,” he said.
“Purely scientific rationalism cannot change our fundamental understanding of who we are and how we should live. Religion and science must work together to bring about a fundamental transformation in our relationship to the world. This kind of change needs a spiritual foundation,” he said.
Delegates process into Windsor Castle.
The Baha’i World News Service has more on this.
[Picture courtesy of Alliance of Religions and Conservation]
Technorati Tags: ARC, UNDP, Baha’i, Windsor Castle, Prince Philip, environment, climate change, religion, faiths, social action
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