DDM’s participation in the Katowice Climate Change Conference
From the 3rd to the 14th of December 2018, the 24th Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) was held in Katowice, Poland, with representatives from almost 200 countries, aspiring to reach a consensus on the implementation of the “Paris Agreement”. Ven. Chang Ji of the DDMBA (Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association) took part in the entire conference, sharing her concerns about the future of mankind along with youths from all over the world who have also participated in a series of regional youth conferences organized by the DDM in the past.
Heat waves, floods, hurricanes have caused heavy losses around the world, and within the next 70-80 years, the children of today will live in a world that is constantly over-heating. In her speech at the COP24 plenary, 15-year-old girl, Greta Thunberg, from Sweden urged that immediate action be taken against the climate change, pointing out that in the past 24 years no solution adequate enough to the gravity of the situation has been effectively implemented, despite countless conferences. So, it is time for our world’s leaders to enlist the participation and devotion of the youth of the world.
“As young people, we have a unique stake in the global dialogue on climate change,” stated UN Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, “We are the ones who will live with the outcome”. “Diversity is strength, not a weakness,” said indigenous youth delegate, Richard Muñiz, from the Philippines, who wanted to call attention to a “world-wide synthesis of research from young scholars, proposing to the authorities on the issues of Climate Change.”
The concept of "seeking similarities within the differences while putting aside the differences within the similarities", advocated internationally by the late Master Sheng-Yen, is being upheld by the DDMBA in the United States for the organization of a series of symposia for youth worldwide all year round. It is hoped that the youths from different ethnic backgrounds can discuss the issue towards a better understanding, followed by opening the gates of cooperation toward a secure future through these exchanges of new perspectives.
Texts: Dharma Drum Monthly Translation: Chang, Cheng-Yu (張振郁）
Editing: DDM Editorial Team; Christine Huang