World Religious Leaders Consider Global Deforestation

International: World Religious Leaders Consider Global Deforestation

June 17, 2017 by admin

Religions for Peace (RfP) is delighted to be working in partnership with Vidar Helgesen, the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University, GreenFaith, Parliament of the World’s Religions, REIL Network, and the World Council of Churches to reaffirm the multi-religious commitment to protect the earth.

Office of the Secretary General

16 June 2017

Dear Esteemed Colleague:

There is a growing consensus among the world’s religions that we–each according to her or his tradition–have a moral and religious obligation to protect the earth and its people from the ravages of climate change. Tropical rainforests, one of the planet’s most vital life-support systems, are threatened due to deforestation. This deeply undermines the global efforts on combatting the perilous consequences of climate change. Through multi-religious partnership, the wisdom of each religious tradition can be a resource to help us cultivate the values and virtues essential for harmonious interactions with each other and our common home, earth

Religions for Peace (RfP) is delighted to be working in partnership with Vidar Helgesen, the Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway, Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University, GreenFaith, Parliament of the World’s Religions, REIL Network, and the World Council of Churches to reaffirm the multi-religious commitment to protect the earth. As part of this partnership, the first ever Interfaith Rainforest Initiative’s High Level Summit will be held from 19-21 June in Oslo. It will gather religious, indigenous and interfaith leaders, academics and experts to discuss the spiritual and ethical responsibility to end deforestation and to develop an action plan to protect, restore and sustainably manage tropical rainforests.

I welcome you to join me and other RfP leaders – H.E. Metropolitan Emmanuel [Co-President of RfP], Chief Rabbi David Rosen [Co-President of RfP], Bishop Emeritus Gunnar Stalsett [Honorary President of RfP], and Dr. Din Syamsuddin [Moderator of Asian Conference of RfP] in this important summit through the webcast on 19 June starting at noon CET.

You can find quotes from the RfP leaders here.
See the conference media advisory for details.

Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
Religions for Peace International

RELIGIONS FOR PEACE-the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition-advances common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and harmonious societies, and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than eighty national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global Interfaith Youth Network.