Values and Climate Action

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In response to the call to contribute to the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) that is being organised by the Brazilian Government as a contribution to the climate change COP30 in Brazil in November 2025, a group of educational institutions in India organised a Collective Reflection online on 29 October 2025, with over 250 participants from 3 States of India, including Warna University (about 40 participants), Greenberry World School (about 10 participants), Priceless Pearl's Scholars Academy (about 30 participants), and Blossoms School (about 60 participants).

This Collective Reflection was organized by the Baha’i Academy, Panchgani, India in partnership with 5 Educational Institutions:
• Shree Warana Vibhag Shikshan Mandal (SWVSM)’s Warna University, Warananagar, Maharashtra
• Chhatrapati Shahu Institute of Business Education And Research’s (CSIBER) College of Non-Conventional Vocational Courses for Women, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
• Tikaram Jagannath College (Autonomous) of Arts, Commerce and Science, Pune, Maharashtra
• Priceless Pearl Scholars Academy, Nashik, Maharashtra
• Blossoms School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

National and International Resource Persons:
• Dr. Lesan Azadi, Director, Baháʼí Academy, Panchgani
• Dr. Arthur Dahl, President, International Environment Forum, Geneva; Former Deputy Director, UNEP
• Mr. Steve Schoenberger, (Former Regional Director, Global Water and Climate Programs, World Bank)
• Prof. Vilas Karjinni, Former Vice-Chancellor, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysuru; CEO, Shree Vani Vibhag Shikshan Mandal, Warna University

Preface:

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was launched for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio-92). It launched the multilateral climate change regime. Following the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, the regime recognizes the obligation of developed countries to lead efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to provide financial, technological, and capacity-building resources for mitigation and adaptation actions in developing countries. The regime is built on five pillars: mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity building. In addition, other issues have gained prominence in the debates, such as loss and damage, just transition, gender, Indigenous peoples, youth, agriculture, and oceans.

What is the COP? The UNFCCC launched the Conference of the Parties (COP) as the body responsible for decision-making on the implementation of the commitments adopted by countries to tackle climate change. The COP is attended by all countries that have signed and ratified the Convention. Currently, 198 countries participate in the UNFCCC, making it one of the largest multilateral bodies in the United Nations (UN) system. COP is assisted by a Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and a Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). The COP also serves as the Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) and the Paris Agreement (CMA). The COPs are the annual Leaders' Summits on climate change, usually held in November or December. Besides the COP, the CMP, CMA, SBI, and SBSTA also gather there. (Retrieved from https://cop30.br/en/about-cop30/what-is-the-cop on 30 Oct. 2025)

Executive Summary

The Baha’i Academy, Panchgani, organized an international Collective Reflection session on “Building a Fairer and Safer Future for All- Values and Climate Action.”

The event brought together more than 250 participants, including academicians, administrators, researchers, students, and thought-leaders, to discuss ethical and spiritual dimensions of climate change.

Distinguished experts including Dr. Arthur Dahl, Mr. Steven Schonberger, Prof. Vilas Karjinni and Dr. L. Azadi shared insights on how global sustainability efforts must be grounded in values, unity, and education.

Participants from over 11 institutions from the Indian States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and the Union territory of Delhi actively engaged in online discussion, collective reflections and written responses.

The insights generated during this session will, hopefully, contribute to a collective report for submission to the COP30 Global Ethical Stocktake (Brazil) and to guide value-based climate education initiatives.

1. Introduction

The programme began with a welcome note emphasizing the necessity of collective reflection and joint action for environmental sustainability. The theme—“Building a Fairer and Safer Future for All”—was introduced as an opportunity to link ethical understanding with environmental responsibility.

Dr. Lesan Azadi, Director of the Baha’i Academy, delivered the opening remarks. He emphasised that the session aligned with the objectives of the United Nations COP30 Conference on climate action. The fight against climate change required both scientific knowledge and moral commitment, he said, and that the outcomes of this reflection would be shared with the Government of Brazil as part of a global consultation on ethical approaches to climate challenge.

2. Expert Presentations

• Dr. Arthur Dahl, President, International Environment Forum, Geneva; Former Deputy Director, UNEP
Dr. Dahl introduced the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES) process, which was initiated by Brazil for COP30. He stressed that scientific data alone was insufficient for transformation, emphasizing that spiritual values and moral leadership were crucial. Dr. Dahl outlined five guiding questions from COP30 concerning misinformation, unsustainable consumption, global inequality, harmony with nature, and ethical mobilization. He referenced core Baha’i principles—such as unity in diversity, justice, and stewardship—as foundational ethics for climate solutions, underscoring that communities, institutions, and individuals all share the responsibility for planetary well-being.

• Mr. Steve Schoenberger, Former Regional Director, Global Water and Climate Programs, World Bank
Mr. Steve discussed the challenges of the green transition, noting that centuries of fossil fuel dependence have linked economic prosperity tightly to high energy consumption, creating resistance to change. He argued that overcoming this fear of losing prosperity requires more than just policy; it demands political will, strong civic pressure, and a fundamental shift from material to moral and ecological values. Schoenberger concluded that public awareness and collective action are key to transforming societal fear into empowering, sustainable progress.

• Prof. Vilas Karjinni, Former Vice-Chancellor, JSS Science and Technology University, Mysuru; CEO, Shree Vani Vibhag Shikshan Mandal Warna University
Professor Karjinni commended the Baha'i Academy for introducing ethical reflection into climate discussions. He emphasized that education is central to fostering future generations who act responsibly toward the environment. Karjinni strongly encouraged integrating climate ethics and sustainability principles into all curricula, urging academic institutions to become vital centres of environmental awareness, innovation, and community collaboration.

Following the presentations, Hindi translations were provided to ensure that everyone could follow the discussions clearly.

3. Reflection Questions and Dialogue

Participants engaged with five reflection questions shared by OP30’s Global Ethical Stocktake framework:

1. Why do we so often deny or ignore what science and traditional knowledge say about the climate crisis and share or tolerate misinformation, even knowing lives are at risk?

2. Why do we continue with production and consumption models that harm the most vulnerable and are not aligned with the 1.5ºC Mission?

3. What can we do to ensure that rich countries, major producers, and consumers of fossil fuels accelerate their transitions and contribute financing for these measures in the most vulnerable countries?

4. What traditions, histories, or practices (cultural, spiritual) from your community teach us to live in greater harmony with nature?

5. Considering that we need to guarantee diversity in the collective, how can we mobilize more people, leaders, corporations, companies, and nations to support just and ethical changes in combating the climate crisis? What ideas and values could inspire us in this mission?

Reflections by the participants were shared orally, collected via Zoom Chat Box and through Google Form. These insights have been compiled and analysed as a formal collective report for submission to the global dialogue process.

4. Institutional and Participant Reflections

Participants from diverse educational and social backgrounds shared their perspectives through online discussion and written reflections. They included teachers and students of higher education disciplines such as education, engineering, arts, commerce, science, pharmacy, as well as teachers and their senior students of four high school. They included:
1. Tatyasaheb Kore Institute of Engineering and Technology, Warananagar, Maharashtra
2. Tikaram Jagannath Arts Commerce and Science College, Khadki, Pune, Maharashtra
3. College of Non-Conventional Vocational Courses for Women, CSIBER, Kolhapur , Maharashtra
4. Blossoms School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
5. Priceless Pearl Scholar’s Academy, Nashik, Maharashtra
6. Greenberry World School, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
7. Kasturi Shikshan Sanstha, College of Arts, commerce and Science, Shikrapur, Dist. Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra
8. SMBT College of Pharmacy, Nashik, Maharashtra
9. NVP mandala Arts, Commerce and Science College Lasalgaon, Maharashtra
10. Padmabhushan Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil English Medium School, Maharashtra
11. Baha’i Academy, Panchgani, Maharashtra

Some of the contributors included:

• Prof. Dr. Geeta Shinde (Head, Department of Education and Extension, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune) shared Baha’i Academy’ initiatives promoting sustainability within the university and emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in ecological protection.

• Principal Dr. Rajendra G. Kulkarni (Principal, College of Non-Conventional Vocational Courses for Women, CSIBER, Kolhapur) appreciated the Academy’s leadership and expressed institutional commitment toward future collaborations on environmental education.

• Adv. Mrs. Pearl Motiwala-Azadi (Managing Director & Trustee, Priceless Pearl Scholars Academy, Nashik) spoke about the importance of good ethical leadership and unity, especially starting within the family. She emphasised that acting on climate change starts at home, where parents teach their children how to be responsible stewards of the environment. She asked everyone to live a life of moderation and simplicity, making daily choices that help the environment. She concluded that having a greater spiritual awareness and caring for others is the key to building a safer and fairer world for everyone.

• Dr. Tejaswini Dolas (Assistant Professor, Tikaram Jagannath Arts Commerce and Science College, Khadki, Pune) highlighted student-driven initiatives such as tree plantation drives, environmental awareness campaigns, and field research on sustainable practices.

Educators and students from institutions such as Blossoms School, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) and Greenberry World School (Uttar Pradesh) and Padmabhushan Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil English Medium School also participated actively in the reflection and question rounds.

5. Closing Remarks

The event concluded with words of appreciation from the organizers and participants.

Dr Shashi Gaikwad summarized that addressing climate change required integration of science, values, and collaboration, adding that the reflections gathered will contribute meaningfully to the COP30 consultations.

The session ended with a reaffirmation that building a fairer and safer future depends on ethical leadership, empathy, and collective responsibility at every level of society.

6. Key Outcomes

• Strengthened understanding of the ethical and spiritual foundations of climate action.

• Recognition that education must promote value-based environmental action.

• Establishment of an Ethical Environment Forum to speed the action demanded by Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

• Commitment and collaboration among institutions to continue ethical climate initiatives in partnership with the Baha’i Academy, Panchgani and IEF, Geneva.

7. Conclusion

The reflection session successfully united science, ethics, and education for a shared vision of sustainability. Participants agreed that addressing climate change requires more than policies—it calls for a transformation in values, culture, and consciousness. Through this session, the Baha’i Academy and its collaborators reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing ethical global citizens capable of guiding humanity toward a just, compassionate, and sustainable future.

Summary of the Collective Reflection

Two hundred and fifty participants shared their comments verbally, through Chat Box and through Google Form in this collective online reflection on 29 October 2025, organized by The Baha’i Academy (www.bahaiacademy.org), Panchgani, India and its partner institutions:
• Shree Warana Vibhag Shikshan Mandal (SWVSM)’s Warna University, Warananagar, Maharashtra
• Chhatrapati Shahu Institute of Business Education And Research’s (CSIBER) College of Non-Conventional Vocational Courses for Women, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
• Tikaram Jagannath College (Autonomous) of Arts, Commerce and Science, Pune, Maharashtra
• Priceless Pearl Scholars Academy, Nashik, Maharashtra
• Blossoms School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Q. 1. Why do we so often deny or ignore what science and traditional knowledge say about the climate crisis and share or tolerate misinformation, even knowing lives are at risk?

The responses included: 1. Lack of Awareness & Education (25% responses): People ignore science due to poor understanding of it, limited access to accurate information, or low scientific literacy. 2. Political & Economic Interests (18% responses): Political agendas, industrial profit motives, and fossil fuel lobbies deliberately spread misinformation to protect their interests. 3. Psychological Factors & Cognitive Biases (16% responses): Denial, fear, laziness, confirmation bias, and short-term thinking make people reject uncomfortable truths about climate change. 4. Influence of Media & social media (14% responses): Misinformation spreads easily online; social media algorithms amplify false or sensational content faster than scientific facts. 5. Distrust in Science & Institutions (9% responses): Some people mistrust scientists or official sources, believing conspiracy theories or alternative narratives instead. 6. Complexity of Science / Difficulty Understanding Data (7% responses): Scientific explanations are often complex, technical, or abstract, while misinformation is simpler and emotionally appealing. 7. Materialism & Convenience Culture (6% responses): People prioritize comfort, profit, or convenience over environmental responsibility; some reject science because it demands lifestyle change. 8. Cultural & Social Conformity Factors (5% responses): Some ignore science because of traditional beliefs, peer influence, or social norms that discourage critical thinking.

Summary: Most of the participants believed that climate misinformation and denial stem from a mix of ignorance, vested interests, and psychological resistance rather than a simple lack of facts. They emphasized that education, critical thinking, media literacy, and moral responsibility are essential to counter misinformation and promote ethical climate action.

Q. 2 Why do we continue with production and consumption models that harm the most vulnerable and are not aligned with the 1.5ºC Mission?

The responses included: 1. Economic Interests & Profit Motives (27% responses): The most common reason cited: industries and governments prioritize short-term profits, GDP growth, and convenience over environmental sustainability. Lack of a common universal vision. Businesses resist costly transitions, and economic systems reward exploitation. 2. Consumer Demand & Convenience Culture (17% responses): People prefer cheap, fast, and easily available goods; habits of overconsumption, materialism, and comfort make it difficult to shift toward sustainable lifestyles. 3. Political & Systemic Barriers (14% responses): Weak regulations, poor enforcement, government inaction, and subsidies for harmful industries sustain the status quo. Political and institutional inertia prevent systemic change. 4. Social & Cultural Norms (10% responses): Social pressure, consumerism, and the cultural association of success with material wealth encourage continued overproduction and overconsumption. 5. Lack of Awareness & Education (9% responses): Many people don’t fully understand the environmental impacts of their consumption or production patterns, leading to passive continuation. 6. Dependence on Existing Systems & Infrastructure (8% responses): Deep-rooted dependence on fossil fuels, linear production systems, and industrial structures makes transition expensive and complex. 7. Psychological & Behavioral Factors (7% responses): Human greed, denial, ignorance, and short-term thinking lead to neglect of long-term environmental costs. 8. Externalized Environmental Costs (5% responses): Environmental damage costs are not reflected in market prices, making harmful products appear cheaper and more profitable. 9. Global Inequality & Developed Country Inaction (3% responses): Some respondents noted that developed nations avoid responsibility, shifting burdens to poorer countries.

Summary: Participants overwhelmingly recognized that economic greed, consumer convenience, and weak governance are the key drivers of continued harmful production and consumption. They emphasized that systemic reform, public awareness, strong environmental regulation, and a shift from profit to planetary well-being are crucial to breaking the current unsustainable cycle.

Q.3 What can we do to ensure that rich countries, major producers, and consumers of fossil fuels accelerate their transitions and contribute financing for these measures in the most vulnerable countries?

The responses included:

1. Financial Support & Climate Finance (30% of the responses): Most participants emphasized the need for rich nations to increase financial commitments — through grants, concessional loans, debt relief, or direct funding — to help vulnerable nations adapt and mitigate climate impacts. Common ideas included increasing public climate finance (e.g., $100 billion/year goal); Prioritizing grants over loans to avoid debt; Supporting Loss and Damage Fund, Green Climate Fund; and Providing debt relief and climate-resilient investments.

Examples shared included: “Providing grants and concessional loans.” “Offering debt-for-climate swaps and support the Loss and Damage Fund.”

2. Technology Transfer & Innovation Sharing (22% of the responses): A major theme was sharing clean, green, and renewable technologies with developing nations — including capacity building, research collaboration, and technical expertise. Common ideas included Sharing renewable energy tech (solar, wind, EVs), opening access to patents or affordable licensing, and Building local technological capacity and training

Examples shared included “Transfer clean energy technologies and provide technical support,” and “Technology flow with humanity crossing borders.”

3. Reforming Global Financial Systems & Policies (18% responses): Structural reforms to international finance and trade systems that currently favor fossil fuels and unsustainable development. Common ideas included Reform IMF, World Bank, WTO to support climate goals, End fossil fuel subsidies and redirect them to renewables, Promote carbon pricing and climate-just trade policies

Examples shared included: “Reforming international financial systems and create innovative climate finance mechanisms”, and “Shifting subsidies and implementing carbon pricing.”

4. Climate Justice, Moral Responsibility & Global Solidarity (12% responses): Many linked the issue to ethical responsibility and justice, stressing that wealthy nations owe support to vulnerable ones for historical emissions. Common ideas shared included Treating climate aid as justice, not charity, upholding equity and fairness in climate agreements, and fostering global unity, peace, and solidarity

Examples shared included “Aid should be treated as climate justice, not charity”, and “Rich nations must lead by example.”

5. Capacity Building & Education (8% of the responses): Participants noted the need to build skills, awareness, and institutional capacity in vulnerable countries to manage sustainable transitions independently. Common ideas included Training programs for renewable energy, adaptation, and resilience, supporting youth and local communities through education and leadership, and creating expert exchanges and public awareness campaigns

Examples shared included “Through awareness campaigns and youth involvement”, and “Provide training and capacity building for local adaptation projects.”

6. Domestic Action in Rich Nations (6%): A few participants emphasized that wealthy countries must first act domestically — reducing emissions faster and leading by example. Common ideas included: Rapidly phase out fossil fuels, invest in clean energy and efficiency, demonstrate sustainable lifestyles and governance

Examples shared included “They should reduce their own emissions faster.” “Lead by example through renewable transition at home.”

7. Miscellaneous / General (4%): Some participants gave answers that had a broader scope (e.g., “by charity,” “by strong government action,”)

Summary: Participants overwhelmingly agreed that wealthy nations must take the lead in the global climate transition — financially, technologically, and morally.

The top solutions emphasized funding vulnerable countries through grants and reforms, sharing clean technology, and ensuring climate justice through fair, transparent, and cooperative global systems. One of the participants very articulately explained that humanity’s deep dependence on fossil fuels—built over nearly 200 years—has tied economic growth and well-being to energy consumption, making it difficult for societies to envision development without them. This dependency, reinforced by political and economic systems, fosters fear that transitioning to clean energy will harm immediate prosperity, a fear exploited by fossil fuel interests to delay action. While technological and policy solutions such as carbon taxes and subsidy removal are well known, the genuine progress will depend on public pressure in wealthy nations to compel governments to act decisively.

Q.4 What traditions, histories, or practices (cultural, spiritual) from your community teach us to live in greater harmony with nature?

The responses highlighted the deep-rooted ecological wisdom found across diverse spiritual, cultural, and philosophical traditions. About one-third participants (32%) drew from Indian spiritual and cultural traditions, emphasizing festivals, rituals, and values such as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The entire earth is our home), Ahimsa (Non-Violence), and reverence for nature. Another 20% participants reflected upon indigenous and tribal wisdom, celebrating harmony with land, animals, and seasons. Around 15% participants referenced Eastern philosophies like Buddhism and Jainism, which advocated compassion, mindfulness, and balance with nature, while 12% mentioned global and cross-cultural beliefs that stressed stewardship and reciprocity with Earth. The responses also included the modern eco-spirituality and mindfulness practices. Nearly 10% of participants connected sustainability with yoga, meditation, and deep ecology, and festivals and local rituals. Whereas 6% of the participants underscored gratitude toward nature through seasonal celebrations. Finally, moral, ethical, and educational perspectives (5%) framed environmental care as a spiritual responsibility.

Summary: Respondents highlighted that across traditions, common themes of interconnectedness, gratitude, and respect affirmed that all life was sacred and interdependent. Integrating these timeless teachings into education and community life could foster ethical and sustainable climate action. Some of the main cultural and spiritual examples included Indian traditions (tree and river worship, festivals, yoga, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam), indigenous knowledge systems, and philosophies like Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, and Shinto, which promote compassion, balance, and non-violence toward all living beings.

Overall, the responses reflected a shared understanding that nature is sacred and that cultural and spiritual values can guide sustainable living and ethical environmental behavior. The responses also affirmed that reviving and integrating traditional ecological wisdom can strengthen ethical and sustainable climate action. One of the answers emphasized that all spiritual traditions, including the Bahá’í teachings, call for harmony with nature and recognition of humanity’s moral duty as stewards of God’s creation. It was concluded that uniting people for just and ethical climate action requires a shift toward non-material values, global solidarity, and responsible consumption and voting, empowering citizens to demand and drive sustainable change from the ground up.

Q.5 — Considering that we need to guarantee diversity in the collective, how can we mobilize more people, leaders, corporations, companies, and nations to support just and ethical changes in combating the climate crisis? What ideas and values could inspire us in this mission?

The responses included the following:

The responses emphasized that uniting people, leaders, and nations for ethical climate action required a balanced approach combining awareness, education, inclusion, and moral responsibility. The largest group of participants (24%) focused on awareness and education, advocating for climate literacy through workshops, social media, and storytelling that connect emotionally with people. About 18% participants stressed global cooperation and policy alignment, calling for fair funding, transparent governance, and international collaboration under frameworks like the Paris Agreement. Around 15% participants highlighted inclusivity, justice, and equity, ensuring that youth, vulnerable groups, and marginalized voices are actively involved. Leadership and accountability, answered by (12%) of participants, were seen as crucial for fostering trust through honesty and ethical governance, while 10% participants emphasized communication and emotional engagement, urging a shift from fear-based to hope-driven narratives.

Other respondents underscored youth and community mobilization (8%), innovation and technology sharing (6%), moral and ethical approaches (5%), and symbolic action campaigns (2%) such as tree planting and climate pledges.

Overall, the responses reflected a shared belief that ethical climate action depends on inclusive participation, transparent leadership, emotional connection, and a moral commitment to treat the Earth as a common home.

Some of the unique suggestions shared by participants were:
✓ Replace competition with compassion — view all nations as “children of Mother Earth.”
✓ Global tree plantation day — simultaneous worldwide action for unity.
✓ Create “ethical climate forums” or village adoption programs for localized change.
✓ Use faith-based and moral education to inspire values of justice and stewardship.
✓ Combine scientific data with storytelling and trusted community messengers (teachers, doctors, local leaders).
✓ Frame climate change as a justice and health issue, not only an environmental issue.
✓ Encourage bottom-up communication — empower citizens to hold leaders accountable.
✓ Conduct FDPs, value education retreats, and eco-spiritual workshops to inspire ethical leadership.

Summary: The responses collectively called for a moral awakening alongside policy reform. People believe that awareness, fairness, cooperation, and ethical leadership can unite humanity for climate justice. The most powerful thread across all answers was the conviction that climate action is not just a scientific or political task — it is a shared moral duty. Some of the grassroots, faith-inspired initiatives were shared to illustrate how local consultations and collective moral action can shape international policy and contribute to building a just, sustainable, and spiritually grounded global civilization. It was noted that despite decades of scientific progress and international agreements, meaningful action has often been obstructed by vested interests, materialism, and profit-driven systems lacking moral accountability. The respondent stressed that science alone cannot inspire transformation; instead, a shift in values, behaviors, and social structures is essential. The Baha’i principles play a major role in climate action.

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