His Holiness the Dalai Lama says UN’s Climate Change Summit Encouraging Monday, 30 November 2009, 11:43 a.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Sydney, who begins an eleven-day  visit to Australia and New Zealand on Monday, 30 November 2009

Dharamshala: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama on Monday said the world’s leaders must
prioritise the issue of global warming above all else, adding that he
feels encouraged by next month’s climate change summit in Copenhagen,
the Associated Press reported.His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in Australia for a series of lectures on universal responsibility and the environment.Politicians
must focus their energy on finding a solution to climate change, His
Holiness said during a news conference in Sydney.”Sometimes
their number one importance is national interest, national economic
interest, then global (warming) issue is sometimes second,” His
Holiness said. “That I think should change. The global issue, it should
be number one.”His Holiness said he couldn’t predict what the
outcome of the United Nations summit would be, but was heartened by the
very fact that it is being held.”I think it’s very, very encouraging,” His Holiness said.According
to the Associated Press report, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to
Australia comes as the nation’s leaders remain locked in a bitter
debate over the fate of a contentious bill aimed at curbing greenhouse
gas emissions. Last week, several top opposition party officials
resigned over their leader’s support for the legislation.Australia
is one of the world’s worst carbon dioxide polluters per capita because
of its heavy reliance on its abundant coal reserves. As the driest
continent after Antarctica, it is also considered one of the most
vulnerable countries to climate change.Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd has made climate change issues a priority of his leadership, and
said he wants the legislation passed as an example to the world before
the Copenhagen summit.‘Young people can change the world’His Holiness the Dalai Lama has called on the young people to work to make the world a better place.”You are the main generation to utilise the 21st century,” His Holiness said.”And also in your hands (is) a better world, or miserable world at the end of this century.”The
main theme of his visit to Australia and New Zealand is the need to
develop both individual and universal responsibility to tackle climate
change and other future challenges.Each individual could also make a difference and greater education about the environment was needed, he said.”In my own case I never use bathtub, only shower.”Whenever I leave my room I always put off my light.”Taking care of the environment … (is now) part of my life.”Taking care of the environment should be part of our daily life.”His holiness said he was happy to be returning to Australia after a visit in June last year.He
said he wasn’t disappointed not to meet with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
because meeting with the public was the main purpose of his visit.With his trademark giggle, His Holiness also gave some advice about how to live a satisfied life.His
Holiness said people must try to find happiness at the “mental level”
as opposed to the “sensory level” through things such as movies and
music.”It’s not really deep,” His Holiness said.”Genuine satisfaction must come from the mental level, love, compassion, forgiveness.”Through these … it’s long lasting satisfaction.”Satisfaction … through sensory level is short satisfaction.”