Global Summit of Religious Leaders on the margins of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Address by the Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Chief Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin:

Your Excellency deeply respected Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Idayat oglu Asadov!

Honourable my brother Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Haji Pashazade!

Dear participants of the Summit, brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the 25 millionth Russian Ummah of Muslims, the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation and all our clergy I cordially greet all of you with wishes of peace, mercy of the Almighty and His blessing - Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Let me begin my speech by congratulating you, Ilham Heydarovich, and in your person the whole people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the state holiday Victory Day in the Second Karabakh War. The day of November 8 symbolizes the triumph of truth and justice in Azerbaijan, the end of occupation, revival of temples of different religions and restoration of inter-religious peace. I pray to Almighty Allah to continue development and prosperity of our brotherly Azerbaijan. Amen.

The gathering of religious leaders on the margins of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change has a deep meaning. We speak in the universal language of humanism and humanity, which the Almighty addresses to all mankind through the sacred scriptures and the legacy of His prophets and messengers. The origin of the entire human race from a single father and mother - Adam and Eve - is the most effective image of universal brotherhood and universal moral interconnectedness of people.

The problem of climate change is one of the objective challenges that must be addressed for the sake of the interests of all humanity in its totality and diversity. The climate agenda cannot be usurped by individual countries or groups of countries as a political tool, but must be based on the equality and equal value of every human life on earth, as called for by all the world's religions and their sacred scriptures.


و من عمل في الارض بغير كتاب الله و سنة رسوله فقد سعى في الارض فسادا

‘Do not spread wickedness on the earth after it has been put in order,’ Allah Almighty commands in the Holy Quran (7:56).

Today we see how much international military-political alliances are expanding, how much their military budgets are swelling, and we wonder: would the consequences of global warming, drying up of reservoirs, crop failures be as dramatic if the states of major military blocs were as eagerly invested in climate change and environmental protection as they are in the production and proliferation of weapons?

The Western world's approach to the Global South as a purely natural resource with no civilisational value is an attitudinal error that leads to tragedies on a universal scale. Today, the Global South, as a huge geographical community and as a new actor in the geopolitical arena, puts these issues on the world agenda.

These are extremely diverse political, domestic and welfare states, which are coming together on the basis of values - a commitment to traditional morality and the institution of family and marriage, respect for the spiritual foundations of humanity and cultural diversity, and a shared concern about climate change and uncontrolled technological development.

Although we are committed to the advancement of science and human knowledge of the laws of the universe, the technological development of humankind is also a cause for concern for people in developing countries today. Recent events clearly show the danger that artificial intelligence, communications, including media, and biological technologies will become tools for exploiting and controlling humanity in their own interests.

We spoke about these problems and concerns at the annual meetings of our International Muslim Forum, which in 2015 and in 2021 were dedicated to environmental issues.

I am convinced that we - religious leaders who have devoted our lives to the study of sacred scriptures, are called to raise our voices in defence of all people on earth and each person in particular, to build bridges of trust and care between people, nations and civilisations, to remind humanity of its great destiny - to be the vicar of God on earth, wisely and justly managing the benefits granted by the Almighty.

Thank you for your attention!

5 November 2024, Baku, Gulustan Palace