Leaders from the Brazilian government, religious and interreligious institutions, indigenous people and traditional communities, academics and civil society dedicated themselves to discussing different topics. Sustainable development and climate justice were among the priorities of the meeting.
From June 17 to 21, leaders and representatives of government, religious and interreligious institutions, indigenous people and traditional communities, academics, civil society, and other sectors met in Manaus-in the Brazilian state of Amazonas-for the meetings of the G20 Interreligious Forum (Fórum Inter-religioso do G20/IF20). Together, they discussed ways to collectively live in a clean and healthy environment, with a special focus on the G20 environmental agenda.
The IF20 activities in Manaus were focused on discussing topics such as:
Urban environment, sustainable development and religion
Creating value, prosperity and regenerating nature: religious dynamics and social, biological and economic factors
Pathways to prosperity with food security, climate justice and living forests
Leveraging religious forces to regenerate nature and create value
The relevance of indigenous knowledge and the rights of nature in responding to climate change
Environment, sustainable development and religious engagement
Environment and climate change - contributions from religious traditions
The Amazon, future generations and the role of religions
Amazon challenges: how to develop the region with social, cultural, economic and environmental sustainability
Religions, bodies and nature
"At a time when the world is facing a severe climate crisis, of loss of biodiversity, of pollution and waste, discussing actions and mechanisms to promote and have access to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment is urgent, and must involve perspectives and participation of the religious sector," highlighted Rodrigo Vitorino, the national coordinator of the G20 Interreligious Forum in Brasil and leader of the Brazilian Center for Studies in Law and Religion at the Federal University of Uberlândia (Universidade Federal de Uberlândia).
The IF20 meetings are supported by different institutions and organized in partnership with the Brazilian Center for Studies in Law and Religion at the Federal University of Uberlândia. The IF20 summit will take place in Brasília, from August 19 to 22, with emphasis on the priorities of the Brazilian G20 presidency and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Also contributing to the discussions at the forum in Manaus were Vanda Witoto (Witoto indigenous leader); Adalberto Felicio Maluf Filho (National Secretary of Urban Environment and Environmental Quality of Brasil's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change/ Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima); Tacius Fernandes da Silva (head of the Social Participation and Diversity Advisory at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change); Carlos Vicente (Interreligious Tropical Forests Initiative/Iniciativa Inter-religiosa das Florestas Tropicais); Salette Aquino and Elianildo Nascimento (United Religions Initiative/Iniciativa das Religiões Unidas/URI); Iuri Lima (Episcopal Church and Rede Amazonizar/Igreja Episcopal e Rede Amazonizar); Duhigó Clarice Gama (Tukano people); Ialaorixá Graça de Xangô; Welinton Pereira (Methodist pastor and director of Institutional Relations at Visão Mundial); Dom Joaquim Hudson (Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manaus); Luiz Fernando (Hunjaí religious leader); Ivo Pereira da Silva (Federal University of Pará/Universidade Federal do Pará); and Mãe Ana d'Oya, among many other regional and national leaders.
About the G20 Interreligious Forum
The G20 Interreligious Forum harbors various stakeholders inspired by the G20 agendas since 2014. Through meetings in different regions of the world, dialogue, studies and research, the forum strives to contribute to the G20 process, bringing wisdom, experience and voices of diverse religious communities and of other relevant groups.
The central focus of the IF20, especially during Brasil's G20 presidency, is the urgent call for action to aid the world's most vulnerable communities-who face challenges such as poverty, inequality, discrimination, armed conflicts, forced migration and displacement, the effects of global Covid-19 emergencies, and the issues inherent to climate change. The goal is to promote effective action towards hope and just and realistic practices for a better future, seeking to face urgent contemporary challenges.
The G20 Interreligious Forum meetings in 2024 brings together engaged leaders and focus on the religious dimensions of global debates and the G20 agenda, especially as proposed by the Brazilian government. The meetings address a wide range of issues, from current socio-economic crises to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting a possible collaborative action in the context of the G20.
