Interfaith Climate and Energy Conference in Jerusalem Includes Addresses from Leading Religious Leaders and Interactive Workshops
Jerusalem:– March 12th, 2012:
Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders will join together to speak out on climate change and convey a shared vision regarding renewable energy at the Interfaith Climate and Energy Conference to be held in Jerusalem on Monday, March 19th, 2012. Religious leaders and institutions have the potential to mobilize billions of followers in the global struggle to curb climate change. The Conference is being held 90 days in advance of the UN Rio +20 Conference on Sustainable Development, and aims to generate tractable environmental change within faith-based communities.
Panelists include Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, Archbishop Dr. Elias Chacour, Sheik Muhammed Amara, Rabbi Ronen Lubitch. Video addresses by world religious leaders will follow, from the Dalai Lama, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Orthodox Church; Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger, Cardinal Turkson, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; the Archbishop of Canterbury; and eminent world religious leaders of other faiths. Interfaith break-out workshops and a closing session with Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Naomi Tsur will follow the main panel event.
The Conference marks the launch of the Interfaith Seminary Students Sustainability Project, bringing together Muslim, Christian, and Jewish seminary students for a series of seminars on faith and the environment. The Conference will also launch the first online video collection of world religious leaders on climate change.
The Conference will be held at the Conference Center in Mishkenot Sha’ananim, Jerusalem, with registration at 09:30 and the main panel beginning at 10:00. Simultaneous translation will be provided between English, Hebrew, and Arabic. Bus transportation will be provided from Tel Aviv for those who register. A free lunch will be provided, admission is free, and pre-registration is required. The conference is being co-organized by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
