ICE CONFERENCE I
Inter-religious Dialogue on Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation Islander Center, Sewalanka Foundation Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka,
23-27 September 2012
The Inter-religious Dialogue on Climate Change and Biodiversity Conservation was held in Sri Lanka from the 23 to 27 September 2012 through the collaborative efforts of INEB (International Network of Engaged Buddhists), Sewalanka Foundation, IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and CEESP (Commission on Environmental Economic and Social Policy). Drawing from the African experience of the “We Have Faith” inter-religious campaign represented at the 17th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 17) in Durban, South Africa, a faith-based conference was proposed for the Asian region, expanding beyond INEB’s Buddhist focus to collaborate across different faith traditions in order to bring the voice of morality and ethics of human behaviour into dialogue and identify cooperative actions on climate change. Over 150 people representing 20 countries from Asia and across the planet from Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i, Christian (Catholic and Protestant), Asian animists/ naturalists from Sri Lanka (Vedda) and Vietnam, and Islamic faith traditions, gathered at Sewalanka’s peaceful Islander Center, which itself provides a unique model for sustainable living, community cross-cultural and interfaith relationship building, and biodiversity regeneration in an area scarred by the impacts of war and extremes of unpredictable climate patterns.
Here, faith leaders, environmental and climate scientists, conservationists and social activists from across the region converged to collaboratively explore the scientic foundations of climate change and biodiversity loss, its social, political and economic drivers, the impacts of climate change on human societies and the environment, and importantly, the underlying human behaviours which contribute to climate change.
Together, a common understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change was articulated. Discussion evolved from an exploration of the human drivers of climate change, which are integrally tied to an overuse/abuse of fossil fuels and extractive industries, and a failure to reduce their continued exploitation. Over-consumption and greed, profit-seeking, extreme socio-economic inequalities and lack of educational opportunities are entrenched in our social systems, yet solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss are rooted in the same paradigmatic thinking that has led us to this critical juncture.
An emphasis was placed on the urgent need to address inner spiritual values as they relate to our human stewardship and inter-connected care and protection for our natural environment. The prevailing attitudes across faith communities which contribute to a failure of our responsibility towards the living world were critically examined. These attitudes support behaviours and actions that accelerate and exacerbate our current climate crisis, and contribute to human vulnerability to the increasing impacts of climate change. Structural impasses were also cited as an area that also must be urgently rectied, most alarmingly the absence of an international binding agreement for reduction of Green House Gas emissions (GHG). The identification of these key issues rose up through a group analysis of cause and effects, from scientific, political, experiential and spiritual perspectives, inspiring a committed and collective faith-based response. This response recognizes the need to move beyond personal affiliations and identities, towards a cooperative action that embraces solutions embedded within faith values, ecological ethics and climate science.
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION
AUSTRIA Strategic Leadership towards Sustainable Development
BANGLADESH Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD)
CAMBODIA The NGO Forum on Cambodia
Oddar Meanchey
American Friends Service Committee
Mlup Baitong
Buddhist Association for Environmental Development
Dhammayietra
CHINA China University of Political Science and Law
HUNGARY Strategic Leadership towards Sustainable Development
INDIA Youth Buddhist Society of India
Mahabodhi International Meditation Center
GAIA
Zero Waste, Thanal
Foundation of His Sacred Majesty
Fo Guang Shan - Delhi
Deer Park Institute
Sacred Earth Trust
Mahabodhi International Center, Ladakh
AV India Group
Fire"ies Intercultural Centre
INDONESIA Islamic Forum
Solidalitas Perempuan
Universitas Pararra
Community Empowerment Council of Central Board of Muhammadiyah
JAPAN Global Ecovillage Network in Oceania and Asia
Juko-in Temple
Edogawa Citizen’s Network for Thinking about Global Warming (ECNG)
Niwano Peace Foundation
Japan Network of Engaged Buddhists
KENYA Kenya Youth Climate Network
LAOS Participatory Development Training Center
Love Natural Resources Association
Lao Buddhism for Development
MALAYSIA Wayang Alternative Media
MYANMAR Naytha Monastery
Water, Research and Training Centre (WRTC)
Asia Light Foundation
Gaia Sustainable Management Institute
Myanmar Resource Foundation
Alein Eing Christian Media
Yangon Technological University
Karen Rural Development Organization
Socially Engaged Monastic Schools
Kalayana Mitta Foundation
Metta Development Foundation
NEPAL WWF Nepal
NEW ZEALAND Waikato University
SOUTH AFRICA TILCEPA Chair– IUCN
We Have Faith campaign
Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute
World Future Council Foundation, African office
SOUTH KOREA Buddhist NGO Coalition of Gwang-Ju, Chunnam
Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism
Lotus World
The Network of Buddhist Civil Society
Ecobuddha
The Good Friends
Lotus World
Korean Buddhist University Federation
Namu Counseling Center for Female Rights
Buddhist Coalition for Economic Justice
SRI LANKA American Mission – Jaffna and Vavuniya
Sri Lanka Nature Group
WICPER - Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research
Environment Legal Council
Centre for Environmental Justice
Ministry of Power and Energy
Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Sewalanka Foundation
Brahma Kumari Trust – Sri Lanka
Welthungerhilfe – Sri Lanka
Institute of Tropical Studies and Conservation
Arthacharya Foundation
Engaged Buddhists Solidarity for Nature
Muslim Education Council
INEB – Sri Lanka
Anuradhapura Diocese
Baha’i International - Sri Lanka Branch
Inter-religious Peace Foundation
Vavuniya Hindu Temple
Sarvodaya
Rainforest Rescue International
IUCN – Asia
IUCN – Sri Lanka
Practical Action – South Asia
ECO-V
Ocean University of Sri Lanka
Ruhunu University
University of Sri Jayawardenapura
THAILAND Dhamma Drop Foundation
INEB – Secretariat Office
Spirit in Education Movement
Sathirakoses-Nagapadipa Foundation
School for Wellbeing- Towards Organic Asia Program
Global Ecovillage Network in Oceania and Asia
U.S.A. The Bridge Fund
Sustainable Transformation
VIETNAM Social Policy Ecology Research Institute - SPERI