“The International Seminar on Religion, Culture, and Environment”
United Nations Environment Programme
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
June 18–20, 2001

Organized by the I.R. Iran and with the active collaboration of the United Nations (UN) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this invitational event entitled, the “International Seminar on Environment, Religion, and Culture,” will be held in Tehran on June 18–20, 2001. Seminar presentations on interconnections between religion and ecology will be given by participating religious leaders and presentations that elucidate interdenominational aspects of religion and ecology will be given by individuals who have previously presented conferences on this topic in other venues. In general, keynote presentations will follow five major themes:

1. Enhancing religious and ethical values in sustainable development through the mobilization of educational and societal resources
2. Challenges to global environmental problems
3. Concentration on environmental issues such as: biodiversity, water, and desertification
4. The urban environmental context
5. Management tools and institutional arrangements for environmental issues

1. How do environmental issues relate to scripture?
2. How can ethical value systems in religion help with the promotion and implementation of consensus objectives from the UN Summits in Rio, Copenhagen, Cairo, Beijing, and Istanbul?
3. What activities that address our major environmental challenges can we implement at this time?
4. What partners are appropriate for such activities? Are they religious institutions, governmental representatives, financial officers, nongovernmental organizations, international organizations? Who should be responsible for managerial tasks and who should be identified to handle financial and implementational aspects of these projects?
5. What management techniques are appropriate for this project?

 
Tentative Schedule

June 18, 2001
8:30–10:00	Opening Ceremony and Welcoming Statements
10:00–10:30	Break
10:30–10:45	Election of the Bureau and Adoption of Agenda
10:45–1:05	Statements of Religious and Cultural Groups
1:05–2:30	Lunch Break Reports on Previous Initiatives on Religion, Culture, and the Environment
2:30–2:45	World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Workshop (Assisi Declaration)
2:45–3:00	The Harvard University Seminars
3:00–3:15	UN Millennium: World Peace Summit (New York)
3:15–3:30	Journey to Kathmandu
3:30–4:00	Other Statements and Discussions
4:00–4:30	Break
4:30–6:30	Main Discussion Themes Begin Theme 1: Enhancing Religious and Ethical Values in Sustainable Development through the Mobilization of Educational and Societal Resources
9:30	Reception
June 19, 2001
8:30–10:30	Theme 2: Global Environmental Challenges
10:30–11:00	Break
11:00–1:00	Theme 3: Environmental Issues: Water, Biodiversity, and Desertification
1:00–2:30	Lunch Break
2:30–4:30	Theme 4: The Urban Environmental Context
4:30–5:00	Break
5:00–7:00	Theme 5: Management Tools and Institutional Arrangements
7:00	Social Event: Drafting Group Meetings
June 20, 2001
8:30–9:45	Presentation and Discussion of the Draft Tehran Plan of Action
9:45–10:15	Break
10:15–12:00	Finalization and Adoption of the Tehran Plan of Action and Recommendations
12:00–3:00	Lunch Break
3:00–4:30	Closing Ceremony