The Faith Pavilion at COP29 hosted a series of dialogue sessions on its eighth day, addressing critical challenges and solutions related to climate justice, carbon markets, and the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. The discussions emphasized empowering local and faith-based actors in planning and implementation processes by presenting innovative solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability.
The first session, “Grassroots Faith Voices for Climate Justice,” highlighted the profound impacts of climate change on local communities, particularly in regions most vulnerable to its effects, such as flooding, rising sea levels, and oil spills. These disasters have severely affected agricultural and marine resources, jeopardizing food security and livelihoods. Participants stressed the importance of amplifying the voices of communities directly affected by these crises and enhancing the role of faith leaders in raising awareness and driving environmental protection efforts. Practical and sustainable solutions, such as adopting renewable energy sources and scaling up local climate initiatives, were also discussed.
The second session, “Paris-Aligned Crediting Markets: Offering Support for Host Countries,” focused on the significance of regulating carbon markets to achieve the 1.5°C global temperature target. Participants emphasized the need for equitable distribution of benefits between investors and host countries while avoiding projects that could cause long-term negative impacts. They highlighted the importance of capacity building in developing nations to ensure effective participation in carbon markets, advocating for the establishment of national carbon monitoring centers and linking national registries with international systems to meet shared climate goals and uphold commitments to the Paris Agreement.
The third session, “Solutions for Restoration, Recovery, and Resilience at the Biodiversity, Climate, and Food Systems Nexus,” examined the interconnectedness of climate, biodiversity, and food systems. Participants noted that addressing one issue requires comprehensive solutions that consider the others. They highlighted how climate change exacerbates biodiversity loss, negatively impacting food systems and contributing to food insecurity in many regions. The session underscored the importance of preserving land and traditional agricultural practices that safeguard biodiversity and promote sustainable food production.
In the fourth session, “Fostering Partnerships for Climate Change Adaptation, Including Loss and Damage,” speakers discussed the need to operationalize funding mechanisms for climate adaptation and expand partnerships to achieve climate justice. Participants praised the progress made in establishing the Loss and Damage Fund as a key step toward global solidarity. They stressed the importance of involving local and faith-based actors in planning and implementation processes to ensure sustainable solutions that align with the needs of communities most affected by climate change.
The fifth session, “Harnessing Islamic Finance for Renewable Energy Advancement,” explored the significant role of Islamic finance in supporting clean and sustainable energy projects. Speakers emphasized the urgent need to bridge the financing gap by leveraging Islamic finance solutions to provide access to clean energy sources and enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable and heavily impacted communities.
Organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, the Faith Pavilion at COP29 builds on the success of its inaugural edition at COP28 and continues to frame climate change as a profound religious and moral issue, exploring best practices to promote sustainable lifestyles, examining the non-economic impacts of climate change through faith-based perspectives, and urging global policymakers to consider the spiritual and ethical consequences of environmental neglect while taking immediate and decisive action to protect the planet.
