BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 5. Planet Earth is grappling with a chronic climate crisis, said Miguel Ángel Moratinos UN High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), TurkicWorld reports.
Moratinos made the statement at the opening of the Global Baku Summit of World Religious Leaders on November 5, held as part of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).
"Sadly, it looks like nature and humanity are clashing. We need to figure out how to get along with the environment. We need to bring back peace, and it's up to us to look after our planet," he said.
Driving home the point that climate change is a hot-button issue, Moratinos underscored the importance of COP29 in tackling this burning concern.
"Our planet is confronting a long-term climate crisis, and its impact on our lives is undeniable. Urgent action is needed to address this injustice. Religion plays a vital role in fostering peace with nature, and we must also prioritize those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change," he added.
To note, a Global Summit of Religious Leaders is being held as part of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the State Committee on Affairs with Religious Associations, the Muslim Council of Elders, the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), and the United Nations Environment Program in Baku.
The global forum is set to roll out the red carpet for around 30 leaders from both secular and traditional religions, heads of prominent religious centers - patriarchs, officials from the Vatican, and Al-Azhar, along with internationally recognized religious and public figures hailing from various corners of the globe and diverse faiths, representatives from government, academia, and religious institutions hailing from 55 countries and 30 international organizations, and media representatives.