Role of Interfaith Dialogue in Addressing the Impact

of Climate Change

Bishop Efraim Tendero, D.D.,D.L.

I. Concepts on Religious Groups

a. Cause of Division in Community

I. Concepts on Religious Groups

b. Apocalyptic perspective of planet earth

I. Concepts on Religious Groups

c. Detached from realities

d. Heavenly minded and no earthly good

II. The 4 Pillars of Societal Transformation

a. Government - Laws and Structure

b. Business- Capital and Funds

c. NGO's- Advocacy & Articulation on Issues

d. Religious- Moral Suasion and Accessibility

GOVERNMENT laws & structure

BUSINESS capital & funds

NGO’s advocacy & articulation

RELIGIOUS moral suasion accessibility

Religious

Government

Business

NGO’s

Common vision

Collaboration:Strategic Partnership

III. Interfaith as a Forum of Engagement

a. Peace Processes

III. Interfaith as a Forum of Engagement

b. Clean and Honest Election

III. Interfaith as a Forum of Engagement

c. Good Governance and Anti Corruption

III. Interfaith as a Forum of Engagement

d. Climate Change

IV. Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change

• Religious & Government working together

Convenors:

–CCC - Climate Change Commission

–DENR – Dept of Environment & Nat Resources

–CCCP – Climate Change Congress of the Phil

–PCEC – Phil Council of Evangelical Churches

–PCID- Phil Center for Islam and Democracy

IV. Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change

Support of other groups:

–United Nations Development Program

–Cagayan de Oro River Basin Council

– Foundation for Philippine Environment

– Simbahang Lingkod Bayan

–Ateneo De Naga University

–Xavier University

– Tacloban Bible Community

–Marikina I Am Redeemer and Master

V. Objectives of Interfaith Dialogue

a. Inculcate Environmental Awareness

b. Raise the moral issue on climate change

c. Mobilize participation and action on climate change

d. Enhance partnership and coordination with government agencies and FBO's

VI. Processes and Strategies

Organize one day Dialogue in National

and Regional Level

a. Plenary Presentations:

–Overview- The Earth In Peril - Sec. Alvarez

–Moral Basis for Caring for Creation

– Scientific Paper - Geological Analysis

– Interventions by government agencies

–Open Forum

VI. Processes and Strategies

Organize one day Dialogue in National/ Regional

b. Workshop and action Planning

– Identify the best practices

– Identify the issues and concerns

–Commitments and Actions of Individuals and Organizations

c. Organize Working Group for follow up mechanism

VII. Results of Interfaith Dialogues

a. Conducted two national dialogues at Office of the President

b. Conducted five regional dialogues in vulnerable areas of the country

VII. Results of Interfaith Dialogues

c. Established working groups in National and Regional Levels

d. Government agencies acted immediately on the concerns raised

e. Greater involvement of faith based leaders and members

VIII. Key Barriers

a. Government restriction for travel of non- government resource persons

b. Political differences of Government Officials

c. Coordination with other Faith Based groups who have divergent positions

d. Intra Faith Diversity

IX. Lessons Learned

a. Concentrate on agreement

b. Focus on common advocacy and agenda

c. Generate support from other sectors of society

d. Be Proactive

X. Recommendations

a. Encourage Interfaith Dialogue on CC in different countries

b. Collaboration of Government, Business, NGO's and FBO's

c. Include Interfaith Leaders in the UN COP

d. Engage the Interfaith in fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals