Religious leaders to take part in Abu Dhabi summit on road to Cop28

Key meeting will highlight role faith communities can play in protecting the planet

The gathering will explore how faith and science can be combined to engage communities in meaningful action. EPA

Faith leaders will come together in Abu Dhabi in the lead-up to Cop28 to highlight the crucial role the world's religions can play in the fight against climate change.

The global summit, held under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed, will be held from November 6 to 7 – a few weeks before the climate conference takes centre stage.

The event has been organised by the Muslim Council of Elders, in partnership with the Cop28 Presidency, the UN Environment Programme and the Catholic Church, state news agency Wam reported on Wednesday.

A venue for the meeting has not been announced.

Senior representatives of the world's major religions will be joined by academics and environmental experts to discuss the ethical duty of faith leaders to address the climate crisis.

The gathering will also explore how faith and science can be combined to engage communities in meaningful action.

“As our world inches closer to irreversible climate damage that can only be addressed through collective effort, the preliminary summit of religious leaders for Cop28 comes at a critical moment,” said Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Elders.

He underlined the need to combat “climate change ignorance” and added that “raising awareness of environmental issues have become imperative”.

The council and UNEP will co-host a faith pavilion at Cop28.

“Inclusion is the foundation of the Cop28 Presidency,” said Majid Al Suwaidi, director general of Cop28.

“Faith-based communities and organisations play a crucial role in helping the world address climate change. To highlight this, Cop28 will be the first Cop to host a pavilion dedicated to the engagement of faith communities.

“Our goal is to provide a global stage for fostering religious engagement and interfaith dialogue with the aim of inspiring ambitious goals and concrete actions to address the climate crisis.”

Cop28 will be held at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12.

More than 70,000 participants – including heads of state, government officials, industry leaders and climate experts – will come to the UAE to help deliver a vital blueprint for action to safeguard the planet.

Road to Cop28 – in pictures

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology speaking in March at the Road to Cop28 launch event held at Al Wasl plaza at the Expo City in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Dr Al Jaber said the UAE presidency had received more than 600 submissions on the two-week agenda in an “innovative and inclusive” consultation with delegates. Pawan Singh / The National

A picture shows empty tourist facilities by the Habbaniyah lake affected by severe drought in Iraq's Anbar province, August 11. The sustainability of nature, land use, and oceans are integral to achieving all the Paris Agreement’s goals. AFP

Climate change is creating severe pressure and risks for the food, agricultural and water systems that ensure human wellbeing. AFP

In a first for Cop, a day will be dedicated to discussing health and its relationship between climate change. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organisation's director general, thanked Dr Al Jaber during a recent meeting.

December 10 will focus on how to fix this, from scaling up regenerative agriculture and water-food systems that support habitat restoration and conservation and increase food security, to implementing stronger, fairer integrated governance between states and corporations, farmers and producers. AFP

Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Minister of State for Food Security in July launched Cop28's Food Systems and Agriculture Agenda. Ms Al Mheiri called on governments to demonstrate leadership by signing the first-ever Leaders Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Action during the Food Systems Summit in Rome.