Peacebuilding Pak-Cop 2024 Conference by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) in Murree

Peace Center Staff Mr. Asher Nazir and Madam Neelam Nisari participated with Fr. James Channan OP 

Norwegian Church Aid Pakistan organized Peacebuilding PAK-COP 2024 Interfaith conference with partners and like-minded organization at Shangri-La Hotel Muree, Pakistan. Fr. James Channan OP Director Peace Center Lahore invited by Norwegian Church Aid NCA as speaker and with his Mr. Asher Nazir Executive Secretary and Madam Neelam Nisari Program Manager participated in this conference. Mr. Imran Munir representative of Norwegian Church Aid NCA warmly welcomed to Fr. James Channan OP and with it he presented the introduction of him. Fr. James Channan OP delivered his lecture on Faith -Based Climate Action in Pakistan with faith actors. In June 2015, Pope Francis published a groundbreaking document that made a theological case for climate action called Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. That fall, in a rare moment of unity, nations established the landmark Paris Climate Agreement. Now, eight years later, the Pope is back with an even bolder update. In “Laudate Deum,” or “Praise God,” Pope Francis says the world is “nearing the breaking point,” condemns climate denial, and calls for urgent climate action. The Roman Catholic church he leads is the largest Christian denomination and has over a billion followers around the world.  NCA works in close collaboration with local faith-based organizations and NGOs, local private sector stakeholders in value chains (input suppliers, processors, buyers, etc.) as well as international companies that can, for example, contribute with technologies, innovation and knowledge. NCA also works closely with academia and research institutions. The aim is to guide, support and inspire our civil society and faith-based partners to become strong mobilizing actors for climate resilience and climate justice. Where possible, NCA seeks private sector collaboration.

NCA mobilizes its faith-based partners to work in their communities and towards their external environment, supporting them in awareness raising and dissemination of knowledge about climate change and environmental degradation. NCA also strengthens these partners’ ability to organize community groups, address local vulnerabilities and build initiatives for climate resilience, while identifying and supporting local solutions and actions. 

NCA also strengthens faith-based climate networks and platforms to raise awareness about climate change at all levels. At the same time, it supports its faith-based partners to establish or join existing inter-faith climate change platforms and climate action networks, to strengthen their advocacy interventions. NCA also secures faith actors’ involvement in regional and international advocacy processes and creates linkages and spill-over effects to national climate justice advocacy agendas (linking national to regional and international levels). There is a strong focus on youth involvement in these international advocacy processes, linking their local work to wider national and international climate justice advocacy agendas. Collaborating with Faith Actors and Civil Society.

Reported by:
Asher Nazir