UK : A look at the ethical & religious issues of the week with Edward Stourton
BBC Radio 4 Sunday: Is faith being left out of COP26? Is faith central to the debate about caring for the environment? This week the UK’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said religious leaders were left to “scramble around” for the chance to make their voices heard at COP 26, the UN summit aimed at bringing climate change under control. As the conference enters a second week, Edward Stourton talks to faith leaders about their experiences, including BK Sister Jayanti, Additional Chief of Brahma Kumaris, what exactly they have to add to the debate and how they’re going to make themselves heard in week two.
Answering Edward Stourton, BK Sister Jayanti said that in terms of civil society, there’s been a wonderful opportunity to engage with people, to engage with other faith leaders, and leaders of other aspects of life. So there is a lot of interaction and communication happening. Hundreds of thousands of people are gathering not just in Glasgow but across the world, making their voices heard and so, at some point, I think that’s going to carry the motion in a very powerful way, so that people do understand that it’s time to give attention to nature.
I attended the conference in 2009, Sister Jayanti said, but over the years special major change happened in 2014 before the Paris agreement. What happened is that the environmentalists started paying attention to faith-based organizations. Because we have the connection with not only the leaders, but specially with grassroots, I think they are aware that voices can have a major impact in terms of transformation of lifestyle especially.
I do know that the government in India is very aware of the power of the religious dimension and I know that definitely they will want to be in touch with people so that the message can be carried through.
Is #Faith Being Left Out of #COP26?
Sunday 7 November, 7:10am @BBCR4Sundayhttps://t.co/3stx0PjJAs
A look at the ethical & religious issues of the week with Edward Stourton#ClimateAction#ClimateCrisis#SisterJayanti https://t.co/S3I2iGgCAx pic.twitter.com/qqKBAPBX86
— Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative (@EcoBrahmaKumari) November 6, 2021
Now available from BBC website/ sounds.