Climate Emergency Tops Global Agenda for Multi-faith Youth
March 11, 2021Climate action now! It is almost as the words have lost their meaning after being constantly repeated for decades. The words which once were filled with hope, carrying the conviction of actually being inspiring and leading to change, are becoming more and more words of desperation. The time is running out.
The climate emergency has become an ethical and humanitarian crisis. What is lacking is not knowledge about the consequences of deforestation, the release of carbon dioxide or the massive amounts of plastic in our oceans. What is lacking is common ethical principles on how we, as one humankind, should act and work together to save ourselves and our planet. What is lacking is the acknowledgement of the direct link between climate change and violations of human rights and human suffering. What is lacking is active and true solidarity with the whole creation.
While leaders throughout the world continue to argue and deny their responsibilities, the young generation of the world is slowly losing hope about a prosperous future. Climate action now! The never-ending repetition of these words from the young generation are more and more becoming screams of desperation. Yet, we refuse to stop fighting for our future and our lives. What other option is there?
In November, 2020, six faith based youth organisations in Europe came together to put together a Call for Action on Climate Justice. The project was initiated by the World Student Christian Federation in Europe (WSCF-E) and coordinated by Stina Tysk, member of the International Youth Committee (IYC) of Religions for Peace’s Global Interfaith Youth Network, and vice-chair of the WSCF-E. The other organisations involved were: Soka Gakkai International (SGI), Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO), Junge Buddhischtische Union (JBU), the Ecumenical Youth Council of Europe (EYCE), and the European Interfaith Youth Network (EIYN) represented by Emina Frljak, member of the IYC of Religions for Peace.
We came together with one common agenda, to once more urge people to act. We urge the leaders of the world to take responsibility, to understand that the climate emergency is a humanitarian disaster which only is getting worse. We cannot continue to wait for new technical inventions to solve the climate emergency. We need to change our living patterns and we need to change our apprehension of humanity. We are one humankind, and we are currently digging our own grave. We must cross the borders that divide us and declare that the climate emergency must be our top priority affecting and pervading all that we do. The leaders must take the lead. We urge you to acknowledge our efforts and set an example of how solidarity and sustainability can be the new normal. There is no need for more words, what is needed is action. Climate action now!