By Karin Kloosterman
16 March 2012 Can mobilizing the world’s faithful save the planet where activists without faith have failed? Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders will be speaking out on climate change this week, while conveying their shared visions on renewable energy at the Interfaith Climate and Energy Conference. It will be held in Jerusalem on Monday, March 19th and you the public are invited to attend. Religious leaders and institutions have the potential to mobilize billions of followers in the global struggle to curb climate change, say organizers. And it is being held at an auspicious time on purpose: 90 days in advance of the UN Rio +20 Conference on Sustainable Development. The groups hope to generate tractable environmental change within faith-based communities. Among the notables, panelists include the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, Archbishop Dr. Elias Chacour, Sheik Muhammed Amara, and Rabbi Ronen Lubitch. Video addresses by world religious leaders will follow, from the Dalai Lama, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Orthodox Church; Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. […] The event is being put on by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the location is the beautiful Mishkenot Sha’ananim in Jerusalem. There will be transport from Tel Aviv for those who register. And admission is free, with lunch.

Holy Land Leaders: Muslims, Jews, Christians Link to Save the Planet