Statement from Colombo: Agreeing To Sustain Life: Our Ecological Conversion

The IUCN Commission for Environmental Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) Specialist Group on Religion, spirituality, environmental conservation and climate justice (ReSpeCC) was launched at the COP21 in Paris. CEESP representatives, scientists from Colombo, Sri Lanka, environmentalists, government delegates and religious leaders to discuss interfaith issues around climate change. Participants included Christians, Buddhists and Muslims and Hindus to consider the implications of the recent Paris climate negotiations on Sri Lanka. This post COP21 workshop on 21 January 2016 included a panel discussion that continued the issues presented in Paris at COP21 issuing the Statement of Colombo, one of the most concise (9 points and 2 calls) and profound declarations issued so far on the role of religions on climate change. The declaration calls for an Ecological Conversion, to set our priorities in order, to put life and well-being ahead of politics and growth-based economic doctrines.