The second day of the Faith Pavilion at COP29 featured a series of significant sessions that focused on issues of loss and damage resulting from climate change and their non-economic impacts through faith-based perspectives. The discussions highlighted the scientific gaps hindering necessary measures to address this escalating crisis, especially for communities most vulnerable to climate change repercussions. Participants called for intensified efforts and the provision of sustainable and innovative solutions that enhance climate justice and integrate spiritual values into global climate action.
In the daily opening keynote of the pavilion, Elder Jack N. Gerard, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emphasized that faith in God represents a bond uniting humanity toward a common goal: the duty to care for and protect the Earth. He affirmed that spiritual values and principles are integral to global efforts to preserve the environment. Elder Gerard highlighted the crucial role of religious leaders in guiding communities toward sustainable behaviors and enhancing environmental awareness. He noted that the teachings of all religions urge the preservation of the Earth's resources and caring for one another, regardless of cultural or religious differences. He called for strengthened cooperation among various religious and social groups to achieve the noble goal of protecting the planet and ensuring a better future for coming generations.
In the first session titled "Beyond Material Loss: Exploring Non-Economic Impacts of Climate Change Through Faith-Based Perspectives," speakers underscored the psychological, spiritual, and environmental effects of loss and damage. They emphasized the importance of protecting the deep bonds that unite humans with nature. The speakers called for the fair allocation of climate loss and damage funds and the inclusion of climate change education in school curricula to safeguard the future of children. They also highlighted the necessity of inclusive dialogue with local communities to find collective solutions to the climate crisis.
Participants in the second session, "Science and Policy Gaps for Effective Measures to Avert, Minimize, and Address Loss and Damage," discussed the scientific gaps that impede effective measures to prevent and address losses and damages caused by climate change. They pointed out that national adaptation plans and nationally determined contributions often acknowledge increasing losses and damages but lack clear details on how to tackle these issues, especially regarding non-economic losses like loss of life and cultural heritage. The speakers explained that the absence of accurate and systematic data on environmental disasters and early warning systems affects countries' abilities to estimate their losses accurately.
In a session titled "Accessibility and Utility of Loss and Damage Funding for Community Resilience: Advocating Local Accountability Mechanisms," participants emphasized the importance of accessing and utilizing dedicated loss and damage funding to enhance communities' resilience to climate challenges, particularly in Global South countries most susceptible to climate change impacts. They commended efforts by religious organizations in Africa to form networks that promote climate justice and gather precise data on climate-induced damages, including infrastructure loss and impacts on mental health and biodiversity.
The fourth session focused on "How Women's Leadership Can Achieve Climate Justice," and highlighting pivotal issues related to women's roles in confronting climate and environmental challenges. The discussion addressed strategies to enhance women's inclusion in environmental dialogues and conferences at both local and international levels. Participants stressed that women and children, along with indigenous communities and marginalized groups, are the most affected by the repercussions of climate change. This situation necessitates developing precise scientific indicators to measure the negative climate impacts on this key segment of society.
Running from November 12 to 22, the Faith Pavilion aims to build on the success achieved in its first edition during COP28, hosted by the United Arab Emirates last year, which garnered wide global participation and significant international acclaim. By implementing a series of dialogue sessions—including more than 40 discussion panels—the pavilion focuses on enhancing cooperation among religions to care for the Earth, exploring best practices for sustainable adaptation planning by faith actors, encouraging sustainable lifestyles through religion, examining non-economic impacts of climate change through faith-based perspectives, improving access to loss and damage funding, advocating for local accountability mechanisms, and promoting inclusive climate justice for all.