We, the undersigned Buddhist leaders, come together prior to the 21st Session ofthe Conference of Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, in arder to add our voices to the growing calis for world leaders to cooperate with compassion and wisdom and reach an ambitious and effective climate agreement.

We are at a crucial crossroads where our survival and that of other species is at stake as a result of our actions. There is stili time to slow the pace of climate change and limit its impacts, but to do so, the Paris summit will need to put us on a path to phase out fossil fuels. W e must ensure the protection of the most vulnerable, through visionary an d comprehensive mitigati an an d adaptation measures.

Our concem is founded on the Buddha’s realization of dependent co-arising, which interconnects ali things in the universe. Understanding this interconnected causality and the consequences of our actions are criticai steps in reducing our environmental impact. Cultivating the insight of interbeing an d compassion, we will be ab le to act out of lave, not fear, to protect our planet. Buddhist leaders have been speaking about this for decades. However, everyday life can easily lead us to forget that our lives are inextricably interwoven with the natural world through every breath we take, the water w e drink, and the food we eat. Through our lack of insight, we are destroying the very life support
systems that we and ali other living beings depend on for survival.

We be lieve it imperative that the global Buddhist community recognize both our dependence on one another as wel as on the natural world. Together, humanity must act on the root causes of this environmental crisis, which is driven by our use of fossi l fuels, unsustainable consumption patterns, lack of awareness, and lack of concem about the consequences of our actions.

We strongly support “The Time to Act is Now: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change,” which is endorsed by a diverse and global representation ofBuddhist leaders and Buddhist sanghas. We also welcome and support the c limate change statements of other religious traditions. These include Pope Francis’s encyclical earlier this year, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change, as weli as the upcoming Hindu Declaration on Climate Change. W e are united by our concem to phase out fossil fuels, to reduce our consumption patterns, an d the ethical imperative to act against both the causes and the impacts of climate change, especialiy on the world’s poorest.

To this end, we urge world leaders to generate the politica} will to close the emissions gap left by country climate pledges and ensure that the global temperature increase remains below 1.5 degrees Celsius, relative to pre-industriallevels. W e also ask fora common commitment to scale up climate finance, so as to help developing countries prepare for climate impacts and to help us ali transition to a safe, low carbon future.
The good news is that there is a unique opportunity at the Paris climate negotiations to create a tuming point. Scientists assure us that limiting the rise in the global average temperature to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius is technologicaliy and economicaliy feasible. Phasing out fossil fuels and moving toward l 00 percent renewable and clean energy will not only spur a global, low-carbon transformation, it will also help us to embark on a much-needed path of spiritual renewal. In addition to our spiritual progression, in line with UN recommendations, some of the most effective
actions individuals can take are to protect our forests, move toward a plant-based diet, reduce consumption, recycle, switch to renewables, fly less, and take public transport. W e can ali make a difference. W e cali on world leaders to recognize and address our universal responsibility to protect the web of l ife for the benefit of ali, now and for the future.

For these reasons, we call on all Parties in Paris:

1. To be guided by the moral dimensions of climate change as indicated in Article 3 ofthe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
2. To agree to phase out fossil fuels and m o ve towards l 00 percent renewables and clean energy.
3. To create the politica! will to close the emissions gap left by country climate pledges so as to ensure that the global temperature increase remains below 1.5 degrees Celsius, relative to pre-industriallevels.
4. To make a common commitment to increase finance above the US$100 billion agreed in Copenhagen in 2009, including through the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to help vulnerable developing countries prepare for climate impacts and transition towards a low-carbon economy.

The time to act is now.
Yours sincerely,

• His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tenzing Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
• Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Patriarch ofthe Plum Village International Community of
  Engaged Buddhists
• His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Head of the Karma Kagyu
• His Holiness Dr. Dharmasen Mahathero, The Supreme Patriarch (Sangharaja) of the
  Bangladesh Sangha
• Rev. Hakuga Murayama, President, All Japan Young Buddhist Association (JYBA)
• His Eminence Jaseung Sunim, President, Jogye Order ofKorean Buddhism
• Bhante B. Sri Saranasara Nayaka Maha Thera, Chief Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of
  Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• His Eminence Rev. Khamba Lama Gabju Demberel, The Supreme Head ofMongolian
  Buddhists
• His Holiness Dr. Bhaddanta Kumarabhivamsa, Sangharaja, and Chairman State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, Myanmar
• His Eminence Agga Maha Panditha Dawuldena Gnanissara Maha Nayaka
  Thera, Mahanayaka Thero, The Supreme Prelate ofthe Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Sri Lanka
• His Holiness Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of All Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
• Venerable Lama Lobzang, Secretary Generai of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC)
• Révérend Olivier Reigen Wang-gen, President, Buddhist Union of France (UBF)
• Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi, President, Buddhist Association of the USA
• Royal Highness Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk, Bhutan.

We invite you to endorse the Time to Act is Now. Please add your signature here: