On Saturday night, the Tibetan spiritual leader released a statement stressing the “urgent reality” of climate change and rallying people across the globe to protect the planet “not only for ourselves, but also for future generations.”

       His Holiness said: “Global warming is an urgent reality. None of us is able to change the past. But we are all in a position to contribute to a better future.

       “Indeed, we have a responsibility to ourselves and to the more than seven billion human beings alive today to ensure that all of us can continue to live in peace and safety. With hope and determination, we must take care of both our own lives and those of all our neighbours.”

       “Today, we need to address the future not with prayers prompted by fear, but by taking realistic action founded on scientific understanding. The inhabitants of our planet are interdependent as never before. Everything we do affects our human companions, as well as innumerable animal and plant species.”

       He added: “As we face this crisis together, it is imperative that we act in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation in order to limit its consequences. I hope and pray that our leaders will gather the strength to take collective action to address this emergency, and set a timetable for change. We have to act to make this a safer, greener, happier world.”

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