At the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Soka 
Gakkai International (SGI) has promoted youth participation and reforestation 
and amplified the call for climate justice expressed by faith leaders.

Alexandra Masako Goossens-Ishii, SGI representative to the UN, comments, 
"Although the loss and damage due to climate change is finally higher on the 
agenda, deep divisions remain on how to address them. I believe faith 
communities have a unique moral voice in calling on world leaders to take the 
decisions needed to move to a just transition for all humanity, while also 
embodying a resilient spirit, providing community support and moving towards a 
just transition at the local level."

To counter youth tokenism, Lucy Plummer of SGI-UK led a November 15 side event 
that modeled genuine participation and showcased the voices of faith-based 
youth who are speaking out about climate-related suffering and leading action 
by faith groups. David N. Munene of co-organizer CYNESA (Catholic Youth Network 
for Environmental Sustainability in Africa) stressed that young people of faith 
can contribute most when they act in solidarity with others, and participants 
emphasized that the world needs the idealism and positive vision of youth.

On the same day, SGI cosponsored a workshop on REDD+, which aims to reduce 
emissions from deforestation and conserve forests, together with the 
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). Cecile Ndjebet of REFACOF, 
the local partner in a joint Soka Gakkai and ITTO project that supports 
reforestation efforts by rural women in Togo, highlighted the crucial role of 
women at the grassroots throughout Africa.

Soka Gakkai members around the world are taking action, convinced that even in 
the face of the insurmountable odds presented by the climate crisis, every 
individual's contribution can lead to positive change. As SGI President Daisaku 
Ikeda has stated, "When youth stand up in solidarity, confident that they can 
determine the future, this fresh awareness and momentum will surely become the 
driving force toward a brighter future."

The Soka Gakkai is a global community-based Buddhist organization promoting 
peace, culture and education with 12 million members around the world. The SGI 
is an NGO in consultative status with the UN ECOSOC since 1983.


Source: Soka Gakkai

Contact:
Yuki Kawanaka
International Office of Public Information
Soka Gakkai
Tel: +81-80-5957-4919
Email: kawanaka[at]soka.jp