On Friday, April 22, world leaders gathered at the U.N. to sign the agreement, an international climate change document negotiated in late 2015 and agreed to by 195 countries.

With 175 countries formally signing the document, this set a record for an opening day signing of an international agreement.

In a statement released ahead of the ceremony, more than 100 faith leaders, including women religious, lauded the agreement, saying that the care for the earth “is our shared responsibility.”

Citing Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’, and statements by representatives of Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh traditions, the religious leaders said humanity “is at a crucial turning point. We as faith communities recognize that we must begin a transition away from polluting fossil fuels and towards clean renewable energy sources.”

They added:

The unprecedented consensus resulting in the adoption of the Paris Agreement, welcomed by faith communities the world over, has opened up a new path towards a low-carbon, climate resilient transformation of the global economy. The global collaboration by all nations is proof that our shared values are far greater than any differences that divide us. It demonstrates that the sense of collective responsibility shared by all nations and society is far more powerful than the recklessness and greed of the few.

See the article by Chris Herlinger at the Global Sisters Report for more information.

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