Wisdom Tree...

Golo Pilz, the moderator for the evening, opened this episode of Climate Wisdom with an update on COP28. After 3 days, the heads of states are now leaving and the delegates are dealing with the details, formulations, commerce, and every other thing needed in order to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. These are tricky and interesting times as negotiators are under immense pressure.

Our experts the evening were Dr. Vera Rodenhoff – Head of Division, German Ministry, Environment, Nature Conservation Building and Nuclear Safety; Carlos Zepeda – PhD, Assistant Director of Policy and Practice at the Laudato Si Research Institute and Sister Jayanti, Add. Admin. Head of the Brahma Kumaris
Dr Vera reminded the audience that this climate crisis is one of the worst that humanity is facing; she likes to hike and loves people and nature like most of us and if we do not do anything to protect it, we will be in trouble. We can do it and we must come together and save it.

As a German, she admitted that they have been industrialized for a long time, before most of the others, and they have a big responsibility, while other countries are developing, which they must, but we need to see how that is done without polluting their countries and emitting carbon dioxide. While there are many trade-offs taking place, to accelerate progress there must be political will to commit, for example, to phase out fossil fuels and to stop building coal-fired power stations, and they need to be supported by other countries and forming coalitions. This requires patience.

Carlos emphasized the need to listen deeply to the cry of the poor, the marginalized, the vulnerable and also the cry of the earth. Indigenous people, he said, have a unique perspective. They see everything as interconnected. They see a tree, not wood, but as life. We need to connect with communities around, lift barriers and listen. Faith based perspectives can be transformational especially because of the inter-connectedness it can foster. Essentially, we must listen to the poor, care for common good of the earth, know that we are all interconnected and begin by changing from within.

Sister Jayanti acknowledged the UAE National Day. She then highlighted the injustice happening at a global level, not just with climate change but in inequality of gender, race, and so on and sincerely believed that only spirituality can resolve the injustice. “We have eliminated spirit from what we are doing, and we need to bring it back into our hearts and conversations.” She added that spirituality is not a luxury that must be considered after a certain age like 60 or 70, but it is mainstream. The inner journey explores inner treasures.

Whenever there is a need, a response comes. There is a need in this world to experience something beyond the physical, and meditation has come to the rescue. In Raja Yoga, the awareness of soul opens me to the divine, giving me a deep experience of unconditional love.

The evening was summarized with good wishes for the COP in three words: Empathy, ‘Science Based Decisions’ and Justice.