SGM Youths Contribute to COP30’s Global Ethical Stocktake Initiative

Ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in November 2025, the COP30 presidency launched the Global Ethical Stocktake (GES). This initiative seeks to gather global perspectives on the moral and civilisational dilemmas of the climate crisis. Soka Gakkai International (SGI) was invited to participate and subsequently extended the invitation to Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM).

Youth Dialogue on Climate Ethics

On 9 October 2025, 21 SGM youth members participated in an online discussion to exchange views on the climate crisis. Divided into three groups, they deliberated on critical issues, including:

• Challenges to achieving the 1.5°C target.
• Ways to mobilise greater public engagement in climate action.
• Practices for living in harmony with nature.

During the dialogue, participants identified three key ethical challenges and developed three corresponding recommendations. They strongly reaffirmed that meaningful climate action requires restoring balance among economic, social and environmental priorities, guided by the conviction that “change can happen with commitment.”

Inner Transformation for Global Change

Concluding the session, the youths reflected that the climate crisis signifies a loss of balance between material progress and spiritual integrity. They emphasised that true change must originate with inner transformation, or “human revolution,” as advocated by President Daisaku Ikeda. The members expressed their determination to translate these shared ideals into concrete action within their communities and spheres of influence.

The COPs are official meetings under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in 1992. These conferences are platforms for countries to agree on measures to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Reported by Goh Lim Erng