Fireflies Dialogues
Hosted by Pipal Tree, Bangalore
March 10th - 13th, 2022
Twin Crises:
Twin crises call out to our common humanity to come together and resolve them with
urgency: these are ensuing internal human conflicts across the globe, and climate
change.
Climate Crisis:
Climate Change is a challenge that we all are facing irrespective of where we are and
who we are. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to strengthen the global
response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this
century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement also
aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change,
through appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced
capacity building framework.
The UN Secretary-General has proposed six climate-positive actions for governments to
take once they go about building back their economies and societies:
1. Green transition: Investments must accelerate the decarbonization of all aspects
of our economy.
2. Green jobs and sustainable and inclusive growth
3. Green economy: making societies and people more resilient through a transition
that is fair to all and leaves no one behind.
4. Invest in sustainable solutions: fossil fuel subsidies must end and polluters must
pay for their pollution.
5. Confront all climate risks
6. Cooperation – no country can succeed alone.
The four main goals of Cop26 are: “Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep 1.5C
degrees within reach; adapt to protect communities and natural habitats; mobilize
finance, and work together to deliver.”
1
Conflicts within and outside:
Globally, the absolute number of war deaths has been declining since 1946. And yet,
conflict and violence are currently on the rise, with many conflicts today waged
between non-state actors such as political militias, criminal, and international terrorist
groups. Unresolved regional tensions, a breakdown in the rule of law, absent or co-opted
state institutions, illicit economic gain, and the scarcity of resources exacerbated by
climate change, have become dominant drivers of conflict. In 2016, more countries
experienced violent conflict than at any point in almost 30 years. At the same time,
conflicts are becoming more fragmented2
.
Fireflies Dialogue:
● How can we envision a world where common humanity is possible?
● Do we recognise the reality that we all are personally affected adversely in one
way or the other?
● Can we understand that the conflicts and sufferings do not resolve in isolation of
self?
● Where we recognise that we need to create spaces to have dialogues that help us
see our and others' pains?
● Most importantly where we recognise that it is a time to act together to rise
together!
There is an urgency to act together. We possibly can not move towards adapting to
climate change unless there is a certain level of peace that allows us to dialogue and
work together. Continued effects of climate change on the other hand can exacerbate
the internal conflicts as resources are fast depleting as our strategies of adaptation and
2 https://www.un.org/en/un75/new-era-conflict-and-violence
1 https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop26
resilience are not yet in place. We hope through dialogue we are able to deepen our
understanding on faith, common humanity and climate action.
Our Focus:
Some of the points for action around these issues that we would like to explore in this
year’s dialogue are:
1. Can Religious faiths and cultural identities be moved to re-align with universal
human values?
Focus to achieve this:
- Highlighting core/humanitarian aspects of all religious teachings
- Mapping religious core values related to pluralism, diversity, social and gender equality
to see synergy
As a potential participant, we ask you:
-Do you have a way to enable such a dialogue in interfaith peace and harmony work that
you are able to share?
- Do you need to engage and know more about how such conflicts are being addressed
to arrive at new ways to act?
2. Sensitizing diverse players in the field of interfaith dialogue and social development
to the urgency of action on climate change
Focus to achieve this:
- Sensitisation to move with urgency in communication and implementation of climate
action in our work
- Creating awareness within our networks on issues of climate change and how it will
impact the future
As a potential participant, we ask you:
- What do you need to know more about climate change?
- Can you share some of your own attempts at integrating climate action in your areas
of work?
3. Developing strategies to find commonalities to work together towards impending
Climate Change issues as it will deeply impact all areas of social development
Focus to achieve this:
-Sharing experiences from our sector that has incorporated climate action into the work
we do
- Building mutual support networks
As a potential participant, we ask you:
- What are the support systems that you need to put together to work towards these two
twin crises?
- Can you share your experiences of linking social development to climate action in your