mark

philippine
Interfaith Summit
on Climate Emergency


Interfaith Divestment, towards a climate-smart and resilient Philippines

November 24, 2020 · 2:00 PM

markPhilippine Interfaith Summit

Welcome

The Philippine Interfaith Summit on Climate Emergency 2020 is a platform for different religions and religious denominations in the Philippines to discuss how their respective religious doctrines and traditions talk about the morality and spirituality of caring for the planet through divestment from fossil fuels and other environmentally destructive industries.

about

About the Summit


background
The world’s leading climate scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change already warned that there are only ten years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5°C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. 1

For faith communities, the issue is about stewardship: God created the world and entrusted its care to humans. We should, therefore, take steps, not only to protect that creation, but also to protect the poor, who will suffer the consequences of the climate crisis in the coming years.

In May 2020, 42 faith institutions from 14 different countries committed to divest their finances from fossil fuels while at the same time calling for the post-pandemic economic recovery to shift the world toward a low-carbon future. 2 The largest-ever joint announcement of divestment from fossil fuels from faith institutions.

These institutions are a mix of Methodist, Anglican, Quaker, Buddhist and Catholic, the latter accounting for 24 of the divesting groups. Seven are located in Ireland and five in South America. They include eight lay organizations, eight religious orders, and four dioceses: the Diocese of São José dos Campos, Brazil; the Archdiocese of Semarang, Indonesia; the Diocese of Ossory, Ireland; and the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, England. 3

In the Philippines, more than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, six percent belong to various nationalized Christian organizations, and another two percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. In addition to the Christian majority, there is a vigorous four percent Muslim minority. 4

Divestment from destructive industries such as coal-fired power, mining, and plastic production are crucial in addressing climate change and upholding the commitments to reduce carbon emissions set in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Philippine Interfaith Summit on Climate Emergency 2020 aims to be a platform for different religions and religious denominations in the Philippines to discuss possible collective and strategic action to contribute in the government efforts to accelerate local climate action.

 

  1. Special Report Global Warming of 1.5 ºC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
  2. Global coalition of 42 faith institutions divest from fossil fuels. (2020, May 18). Retrieved from https://brightnow.org.uk/news/42-faith-institutions-in-global-divestment-announcement/
  3. 42 faith groups in 14 countries announce divestment from fossil fuels. (2020, May 17). Retrieved from https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/42-faith-groups-14-countries-announce-divestment-fossil-fuels
  4. Religion in the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines

objectives
The Philippine Interfaith Summit on Climate Emergency 2020 aims to:

  1. Learn and understand different religious doctrines and practices in the context of caring for our common home through financial investments;
  2. Raise the awareness and consciousness of religious leaders and its members about the vital role of financial investments play in fueling the climate crisis;
  3. Build the capacity of religious leaders and their organizations in taking climate action through green and sustainable financial investments;
  4. Unify different religions and religious denominations in the Philippines into a movement that will take collective and strategic action to address the ecological crisis.
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Philippine Interfaith Declaration on Addressing Climate Emergency

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Read the Philippine Interfaith Declaration on Addressing Climate Emergency that was signed during the Philippine Interfaith Summit 2019. download it here »
agenda

Agenda


agendaAgenda

2:00 pmopening message
Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME
Executive Secretary
CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue

2:10 pminspirational message
Sec. Emmanuel M. De Guzman
Vice-Chairman and Executive Director
Climate Change Commission

2:15 pmcontext building
Interfaith Divestment, towards a climate-smart and resilient Philippines

Rodne R. Galicha
Executive Director
Living Laudato Si’ Philippines

2:20 pmkeynote speech
The vital role of faith communities in achieving climate-smart and resilient world

His Eminence Peter Turkson
Prefect
Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
2:30 pmpanel discussion
Interfaith Divestment—a moral and spiritual responsibility

moderator
Rev. Fletcher Harper
Executive Director
GreenFaith

3:15 pmmoderated dialogue
Interfaith Common Action: A moderated virtual dialogue on sustainable investments

moderator
Dr. Pablito A. Baydado, Jr.
Professor, Institute of Religion
Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas

Coordinator
Uniharmony Partners Manila

4:50 pmpresentation
Consolidated dialogue outputs, commitments, and resolutions

John Leo Algo
Program Manager
Living Laudato Si’ Philippines

4:55 pmclosing remarks
Dr. Lilian Sison
Secretary General
Religions for Peace Philippines Uniharmony Partners Manila

5:00 pmvirtual press conference

media inv 1Media

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Read the official press release for the Philippine Interfaith Summit 2020 from Living Laudato Si’ Philippines.download it here »
partners

Partners


co-organizers
A0 LLS
A1 CCC 1
A2 UHP
A3 GF 1
0008 member aksyon
organizational partners
B1 CBCP 1
B5 GCCM
B2 RfP 1
B3 UNEP 1
B4 URI 1
media partners
C1 MP 1
C2 NCP 1
C4 Licas
C3 PNEJ
faq

FAQ


faqFAQ


How do I sign up?

Sign up here. You will receive a confirmation email with the link to access the virtual summit and a way to add to your email calendar. 

On the day of the event, click the link, and we will automatically let you enter the webinar room at the designated webinar start time.

Does it cost anything to participate?

This virtual summit is free of any costs and anyone can attend.

What are the technical requirements to participate?
  • You need a computer, laptop or a  mobile phone
  • Internet access
  • For more information on how to use Zoom, click here.
What are my roles as an observer?
As an official observer you have the opportunity to listen and interact with our set of speakers, panelists, and fellow observers through our “Q and A/ Open Forum” segment.

We will also provide you recordings and materials used during the virtual summit.

Once the summit is over, can I still get the recordings and materials presented?
Yes, we will send the recordings and materials used, a week after the virtual summit.
How can I get information about future webinars and events?

If you would like to keep up-to-date on our future webinars, events, and latest news, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 

For more regular updates, follow our Facebook page and join our growing online community group
For more options for staying in touch with us, visit our website.