Vatican City, Rome
A delegation representing the initiative was invited to travel to the Vatican to participate in the conference “Saving Our Common Home and The Future of Life on Earth” to mark the third anniversary of the Pope Francis encyclical, Laudato Si’. The initiative featured prominently in the deliberations, with remarks from H.E. Ola Elvestuen, Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment (video here, starting at 2:11); Bishop Emeritus Gunnar Stålsett (video here, starting at 12:40); Dr. Charles McNeill, Senior Advisor on Forests & Climate, UN Environment; and a statement on behalf of Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment about the commitment of the United Nations system to mobilizing a faith-based movement to protect forests.