Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity. The Moral Dimensions of Climate Change and Sustainable Development

CASINA PIO IV • VATICAN CITY • 28 APRIL 2015
Organised by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, SDSN and Religions for Peace, the goal of this summit is to help strengthen the global consensus on the importance of climate change in the context of sustainable development. Global climate change adversely affects every aspect of our civilisation and thus should be a matter of serious concern across all world religions. Their effect on the poor is even more severe. We wish to elevate the importance of the moral dimensions of protecting the environment in advance of the Papal encyclical and to build a global movement to deal with climate change and sustainable development throughout 2015 and beyond.
The desired outcome is a joint statement on the moral and religious imperative of dealing with climate change in the context of sustainable development, highlighting the intrinsic connection between respect for the environment and respect for people – especially the poor, the excluded, victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, children, and future generations.
PROGRAMME
10:30 - 11:00
Welcome by H.E. Msgr. Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo
Chancellor of the PAS
Opening address by Ban Ki-moon (text and video)
UN Secretary General
Opening address by H.Em. Card. Peter Turkson (text and video)
President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
11:00 - 11:15
Brief statements by
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs (text and video)
Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
Dr. William Vendley (video)
Secretary General of Religions for Peace
President Margaret Archer (video)
Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
Prof. Veerabhadran Ramanathan (video and pdf)
Pontifical Academy of Sciences
14:00 Panel 2: Justice and Responsibility
Leading representatives from the major religions.
Moderator: William Vendley
Panelists: Rabbi David Rosen, Olaf Tveit, Metropolitan Emmanuel, Din Syamsuddin, Swamiji Theertha, Kosho Niwano.
15:30 Panel 3: Practical aspects from local to global
Proposed solutions and follow-up.
Moderator: Jeffrey Sachs
Panelists: Address by President Rafael Correa, Hans Vestberg (PDF), Laurence Tubiana, Cardinal John Onaiyekan
17:00 Panel 4: Eliminate Human Trafficking and Resettle its Victims: Next Steps Towards Sustainable Development
Moderator: Margaret Archer
Panelists: Margaret Archer, Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, Pierpaolo Donati, Stefano Zamagni
18:00 Discussion of joint statement
18:30 Reception and refreshments
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