SGI BUDDHIST GROUP TO RELEASE STATEMENT CALLING FOR COP26 TO DELIVER ON CLIMATE JUSTICE AND EDUCATION AND PROVIDE GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH PARTICIPATION

Press Conference Room Durdle Door 4.15pm October 31, 2021

GLASGOW: The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) will today issue a statement “Sowing Seeds of Hope: A Buddhist Call for Courageous Action for Climate Justice” calling on negotiators at COP26 to deliver global solidarity of action in order to tackle the effects of climate change that threaten our common future. It urges them to match their words with bold and ambitious action to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Emphasizing the need for a human-rights approach, the Buddhist group’s statement calls on negotiators to be willing to listen to uncomfortable truths and in particular to heed voices from the Global South and indigenous peoples and to deliver climate justice.

It also demands concrete action from governments to develop a new work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) and a 5-year detailed action plan with requirements for monitoring and reporting to strengthen education, information and opportunities for participation.

As a global network of empowered Buddhists, with a high proportion of youth, SGI also stresses the need for increased emphasis on youth participation, with calls for genuine leadership opportunities within the COP process on climate change to be given to youth.

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Specific recommendations are made for establishing a UN Youth Council, holding regional and national youth summits on climate related challenges, and for the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution encouraging the mainstreaming of youth participation in climate-related decision-making, similar to Security Council Resolution 2250, which urges member states to strengthen the role played by young people in peace and security issues.

SGI sees local level action and nurturing the seeds of “active hope” as vital to overcoming a sense of despair. As the statement reads: “The implications of the climate crisis are so profound and so complex that they can be daunting and overwhelming, leaving people feeling disempowered and hopeless. This is why it is vital to take action at the local level in whatever way we can.”

The full statement can be read at:

https://www.sokaglobal.org/contact-us/media-room/statements/buddhist-call-for-climate-justice-cop26.html

The Soka Gakkai is a global community-based Buddhist organization with 12 million members around the world that promotes peace, culture and education centered on respect for the dignity of life. The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is a global association linking independent Soka Gakkai organizations around the world, and an NGO accredited since 1983 with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). www.sokaglobal.org www.sgi-ouna.org

Contacts:

SGI Delegation Lead Joan Anderson +44 7563 374 393 anderson@soka.jp

SGI-UK Youth Participation Lead Lucy Plummer +44 7446 916 723 lp@appliedbuddhism.org.uk