The COP28 UN Climate Conference Faith Pavilion
COP28 Faith Pavilion
The first-ever Faith Pavilion at a climate COP was a big success, with 70 sessions and 325 speakers, including major religious leaders, government ministers, and Indigenous people.
Evaluating the Faith Pavilion’s Impact
Click here to read an evaluation report about media reach and impact of the Faith Pavilion, made by the London-based PR firm Greenhouse Agency. Some of the highlights were:
- Faith was clearly positioned at the heart of COP28 with clear recognition and support for the power of faith in climate.
- Media coverage was significant – as much as 7% of the total media coverage of COP28 referenced faith in some capacity.
- More than 4,000 articles referenced the Faith Pavilion at COP28 with positive key messages aligned to our briefing.
- In the run up to and during COP, Greenhouse issued 10 press releases and media advisories and arranged interviews with 8 media outlets.
- Over 16,000 pieces of content across social channels included the hashtags #FaithAtCOP28 or #FaithClimateAction, and referenced the Faith Pavilion.
Who organized the Faith Pavilion?
The first-ever Faith Pavilion at a UN Climate Change Conference is hosted by the Muslim Council of Elders in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and a diverse coalition of global partners including the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, the Episcopal Diocese of California, the International Partnership on Religion and Development (PaRD), the Peace Department, and over 50 faith organizations. Pope Francis had planned to come to the Faith Pavilion for an inaugural session, and ended up giving a video address.
What happened in the Faith Pavilion?
Situated at the heart of COP28, adjacent to the World Climate Action Summit and negotiations zones, the Faith Pavilion hosts more than 65 sessions. It brings together religious and other civil society representatives, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, youth, and political leaders. The Pavilion provides a unique opportunity for faith-based engagement with key stakeholders, including political delegations, decision makers, negotiators, and business leaders to promote swift and effective climate action. A Faith for Climate Call to Action was issued by the Faith Pavilion, and can be found here.
Pre-COP Global Faith Leaders Summit on Climate
High-level faith leaders from around the world convened on November 6-7, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, UAE to sign a statement of support for urgent climate action at the Global Faith Leaders Summit, organized by the Muslim Council of Elders in collaboration with the COP28 Presidency and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The interfaith statement can be viewed here.
The Faith Pavilion’s 6 Goals at COP28
Inspire and unleash the power of religions, religious leaders, and faith communities as change agents for climate action.
Highlight concrete actions by religious institutions and communities to curb climate change with measurable indicators and a monitoring mechanism.
Promote a global coalition of religious leaders working together for climate action.
Encourage religious leaders to engage in policy dialogue with and inspire climate ambition among political delegations.
Achieve a historic alignment of religious leaders behind a call for climate action designed to harness contributions at an individual and institutional levels as a response to the Global Stocktake and to build a greater sense of hope around COP 28.
Unify and maximize the collective action of faith actors present at COP 28.
Religious Leaders Call for Climate Action
Faith leaders are calling for climate action at COP28. We are pleased to share videos of religious leaders speaking to the importance of engaging faith communities in curbing climate change, and calling for world leaders to take action. They also highlight the need to find deep within ourselves the strength and will to act for a sustainable planet. Click here to see these videos.
What interfaith activities took place at COP27?
The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), took place in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh. More than 100 Heads of State and Governments, and over 35,000 participants attended the convention, which ran from November 6-20, 2022. ICSD co-organized four interfaith press conferences at COP27. More information and full video records of those events can be found here.