DUBAI – The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), set to begin tomorrow, will witness the launch of the Faith Pavilion, an initiative hosted by the Muslim Council of Elders in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, and a coalition of faith partners.

Ahead of the opening, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said that the Faith Pavilion at COP28 aims to provide a global platform for exchanging perspectives, fostering consensus, finding solutions, forming partnerships, and proposing recommendations to advance environmental justice. The pavilion also seeks to engage religious communities, decision-makers, and other civil society actors to develop a shared vision addressing the challenges of climate change.

The Secretary-General added: “The Faith Pavilion symbolizes a beacon of hope and the shared global responsibility towards protecting the planet.”

He noted that this COP, led by the United Arab Emirates, reflects a firm belief in the role of religions and the importance of unifying efforts to achieve desired progress in global climate action.

The Faith Pavilion aims to provide a platform for dialogue among religious leaders, scholars, academics, environmental experts, climate activists, women, youth, and indigenous peoples while promoting collaborative efforts to find effective and tangible climate solutions - sending a message from religious leaders to policymakers, urging them to prioritize ambitious climate action and remember the ethical responsibility to protect the Earth.

The pavilion will host over 65 sessions with 325 speakers representing nine major religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Baha’i, Buddhism, Indigenous Religions, and Zoroastrianism. Participants include representatives from over 70 international organizations, including universities, youth organizations, faith-based organizations, religious institutions, climate advocacy groups, indigenous bodies, non-governmental organizations, governmental and intergovernmental bodies, women's and humanitarian aid organizations.

The Pavilion will also house the Tree of Conscience – a tree collectively planted by 28 high-level faith leaders from over 19 faiths and denominations during the Global Faith Leaders Summit hosted by the Muslim Council of Elders this past November in Abu Dhabi.