Global summit for faith leaders worldwide will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 6 and 7

To highlight the essential role of religious communities in combating climate change, a worldwide conference for religious leaders worldwide will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 6 and 7. Prior to the UNFCCC's 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), which the UAE will host from November 30 to December 12, the summit will take place.

The event will be sponsored by the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE), whose chairman is His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The COP28 Presidency, the Catholic Church, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will all work together to host the summit.

Academics, environmental specialists, and religious leaders from the world's main religions are anticipated at the two-day conference, which will focus on the ethical obligations of religious leaders in solving the climate problem. The meeting will also cover strategies for amplifying the voices of religious leaders to enhance climate justice, discuss strategies for bridging the gap between empirical evidence and spiritual teachings, and highlight ways to involve grassroots communities in achieving sustainable development.

The MCE and UNEP will co-host the Faith Pavilion at COP28, the first of its type at a COP event, together with the COP28 Presidency during COP28."Inclusion is the foundation of the COP28 Presidency - faith-based communities and organisations play a crucial role in helping the world address climate change," said Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi, Director General and Special Representative of COP28. In order to emphasise this, the COP28 will be the first COP to have a pavilion devoted to the participation of religious communities.

Over 70,000 people are anticipated to attend COP28 UAE, which will be held in Expo City Dubai. Participants will include heads of state, government representatives, business executives, academics, and non-state actors. The Paris Climate Agreement requires that the first-ever Global Stocktake, a thorough assessment of progress towards climate targets, be presented during COP28 UAE. In order to speed progress via a practical global energy transition and an inclusive "leave no one behind" approach to climate action, the UAE will lead a process for all stakeholders to agree upon a clear roadmap.