Dharamshala,India — His Holiness the Dalai Lama has urged world leaders meeting in Poland for the COP24 Climate Conference to take a serious transformative action on tackling climate change and find “constructive solutions to global warming.”
The spiritual leader of Tibet sent a message to the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) which opened on Monday in Katowice, Poland.
Delegates and decision makers from almost 200 countries are currently attending the Conference which aims to hammer out a roadmap for putting into practice the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has, for many decades, advocated for environmental and climate change action. He has authored many articles and opinions on protecting the world’s environment. His Holiness has also made environment conservation one of his three lifelong commitment.
“I extend my greetings and prayers to my dear brothers and sister, delegates to the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change," His Holiness the Dalai Lama said in a message sent to Delegates at COP24, Poland, dated 20 November 2018.
“I would sincerely like to thank all of you who have selflessly and tirelessly put effort into creating a better environment for the world so that future generations will be able to live a healthy, happy life.
“As someone born in Tibet, the rooftop of the world, where Asia’s great rivers and on which the world’s highest peaks are to be found, I have loved nature since my childhood. I have made environmental conservation one of my life’s commitments and advocate protection of the environment wherever I go.
“In spite of the huge technological developments that have taken place in our modern world, we have created many problems, too. Experts tell us that human beings are responsible for global warming and the change in weather conditions. Logically this means that we human beings have a responsibility to reduce problems that we have caused, and finally to eliminate them.
“Climate change is not the concern of just one or two nations. It is an issue that affects all humanity, and every living being on this earth. This beautiful planet is our only home. If, due to global warming or other environmental problems, the earth cannot sustain itself, there is no other planet to wish we can move. We have to take serious action now to protect our environment and find constructive solutions to global warming.
“When we see photographs of the earth from space, we see no boundaries between us, just this one blue planet. This is no longer a time to think only of ‘my nation’ or ‘our continent’ alone. There is a real need for a greater sense of global responsibility based on a sense of the oneness of humanity.
“I want to thank United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for consistently working to reduce the negative impact of climate change and pray that this conference will be a success.”
