On the third consecutive day, the activities of the Faith Pavilion at COP28 continued with a total of six sessions that attracted a large number of visitors to the blue zone. The sessions focused on climate justice, gender equality in the face of climate challenges, the role of religions in addressing climate change, and adapting to the climate crisis, especially in dealing with crises such as food and water security.
In the first session titled “Interfaith Feminist Climate Justice for the Human Right to a Healthy Society and Environment,” participants emphasized the significant connection between climate change, human health, and the planet. They also highlighted challenges, such as inadequate access to balanced diets and hunger, especially among girls and women, stressing the importance of involving women in climate decision-making.
The second session, “Practical Faith Leadership in Addressing Climate Change,” affirmed the great importance Islam places on climate protection. Participants emphasized that the religion’s teachings always call for environmental preservation and the responsible use of natural resources as an integral part of human responsibility towards creation.
The third session, “Localizing Faith Action for Human Security in the Face of Climate Change: An African Perspective,” called for increased climate financing, enhanced climate justice, justice for indigenous peoples, and support for faith-based climate action. Participants urged religious entities to apply accountability, oversight, and monitoring principles to avoid misusing funds allocated for climate change mitigation.
The fourth session focused on ways to enhance adaptation and address water scarcity and also pointed out that conflicts in many parts of the world are linked to water scarcity due to climate change, emphasizing the need to take climate change seriously, especially amid the increasing demand for water by people, industries, and agriculture.
In the fifth session, “Moving Faith Forward: Youth Leadership and Faith-Based Climate Advocacy,” participants underscored that youth are leaders of the future and must be equipped with diverse knowledge and strengthened capabilities to effectively engage in and address contemporary global challenges.
The final session, “Afrodescendant People’s Day: Hope and Resilient Communities Against Climate Change,” emphasized the importance of supporting the climate agenda for African communities most affected by climate change impacts. Participants called for the formulation of an internationally recognized African climate agenda that could play a pivotal role in providing the necessary funding to support projects related to addressing losses and damages.
Tomorrow, on the fourth day of the Faith Pavilion at COP28, several sessions will focus on the interconnection of financing, ethics, and human rights, forced migration and displacement, faith and indigenous peoples, Islamic social financing for climate action, and faith-consistent investment to address climate challenges and poverty resulting from climate change.