23 January 2015: The six main religions of Hong Kong have released a joint, interfaith statement sounding the alarm on climate change. The statement emphasizes the impact climate change is having on weather, and consequently on famine, diseases and storms. The religious leaders express concern that the poor and vulnerable are and will be most impacted by the “potentially catastrophic consequences” of unabated carbon emissions.

Released by the Colloquium of Six Religious Leaders of Hong Kong, the statement urges world leaders to “act now” and to quickly agree on a climate change agreement at the UN climate change negotiations scheduled to take place in Paris, France, in December 2015. Noting their own belief in “a shared responsibility for our planet,” the religious leaders call on political leaders to focus on the shared responsibility to act on climate change, rather than on differences.

The six religions, Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Islam, Protestantism and Taoism, share a spirit of environmental protection, according to Chan Kim-kwong, Christian Council. However, the global multi-faith movement ‘Our Voices’ believes the statement is the first of its kind from Asia. It comes as Pope Francis prepares an encyclical on climate change, expected in June or July 2015. [Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN) Press Release] [Climate Change Statement] [IISD RS Story on Pope Francis and Climate Change]