Religious leaders should participate in UN Climate Conference: Zed

Leaders of major world religions and denominations should be invited to actively participate in the ambitious “Copenhagen COP 15” United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2009, Hindus emphasise.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a release in Nevada (USA) on Monday, said that with world religious leaders, religions and denominations openly blessing the environmental causes at “Copenhagen COP 15”, implementation of the global climate agreements reached at this conference would be more effective and smooth.

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that religion was the most powerful and far-reaching force in our society and could prove very influential in handling concerns like ecological responsibility. Faiths jointly coming out in support of the environment would be a remarkable signal, he added.

Senseless use of natural resources, extravagance, greed, etc., were some of the major causes of this ecological crisis and these could be effectively dealt with by world religions. Current trend of one percent increase in emissions every year, if left unchecked, would be catastrophic for the environment and humanity, Zed warned.

Rajan Zed pointed out that ancient Hindu scriptures, especially Atharva-Veda, were highly respectful of mother nature.

Conference of the Parties (COP), Fifteenth session, of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) to be held at Bella Center in Copenhagen (Denmark) from December 7-18, 2009, will enter into a binding global climate agreement applicable to period after 2012.