His Holiness the Dalai Lama in an interview with Channel 4 on climate change. Photo: Screengrab
Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama warns of the catastrophic consequences if the world leaders do not take urgent action against climate change during an interview with Channel 4.
‘It is a serious matter’, says the Tibetan spiritual leader and alerts that if the present attitude toward climate change continues, humans may have to witness a never seen before global warming that may lead to practically irreparable damage on earth.
He further mentions that countries like Tibet that is rich in sources of rivers may become a hyper-arid desert land in the near future if global warming remains unchecked.
His Holiness is known for his lively sense of humour, and here too, his sense of humour found a ground to direct the attention of world leaders on the crisis of climate change as he chuckles and shares that ‘they must be put in a room pumped with carbon dioxide’ as a way to ensure they take the climate change seriously.
His Holiness maintained that the ‘UN should take a proactive role in this field’ and when asked if the world leaders are failing, he replied, “The big nations should pay more attention to ecology” and suggested that instead of spending millions on weapons and war, the big nations should divert their resources into ‘preservation and protection of global climate’.
His Holiness insisted that if he were to join any political party, then it would be Green party as he observed that their idea was good.
His Holiness said that protection of the environment should be inculcated in children since young through education.
“Taking care of the environment is ultimately taking care of yourself’ said the Tibetan spiritual leader.
When asked how people should adapt to the coronavirus pandemic facing the world, he says, “although prayers are beneficial in this tough time it is not sufficient to rely only on prayers”.
Quoting a famous line by Shantideva, His Holiness says, “if there is a way to overcome a difficulty then no need to worry, but if there is no way to overcome a difficulty then why to worry at all”.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama urges world leaders to take urgent action on climate change. Photo: Screengrab
