DDM Global News
DDM Engaged Global Youth Leaders on Climate Change
The imminent climate crisis poses an arduous challenge for all of humanity. Organized with longstanding support from Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association (DDMBA), the Inner Dimensions of Climate Change (IDCC), a global conference series for youth, has resumed in 2025 after a three-year pause due to the pandemic.
Starting from February 15th to February 21st, 2025, 24 youth leaders from North America, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean, and the indigenous peoples of South America gathered at the conference organized in Samana Bay, Dominican Republic, marking a new chapter of IDCC 2.0 under the guidance of Ven. Chang Ji (常濟法師) and Ven. Guo Chan (果禪法師), nuns from Dharma Drum Mountain Sangha. As planned by the young participants, the agenda of the in-person conference consisted in intellectual exchanges, experiential learning, and wisdom sharing. In addition to indigenous rituals that show respect to nature, indigenous astronomy, and wisdom of traditional life, the agenda also included other diverse and rich topics such as debunking the myths about ocean ecology and the wisdom behind it, as well as spiritual encounters in the search for whales, thus allowing every participant to rediscover the innate connection with Mother Nature through reflection.
As Ven. Chang Ji expounded, the multiple crises facing humanity today include the tragedy of the commons, perspectives, and mind. Ven. Chang Ji further pointed out that this is an important entry point for examining the root causes of climate change. Ven. Guo Chan demonstrated the ideas of DDM's Protecting the Four Environments through the practice of zero-waste living. Furthermore, Ven. Guo Chan led a walking meditation session in the forest, during which she guided the young participants to practice DDM Eight Form Moving Meditation. Throughout the seven-day program, everyone not only inspired each other and built cohesiveness, but also discovered that they were not alone while listening, learning, meditating, and getting close to nature. A young force for climate change actions has rolled up its sleeves, accumulating its energy to take off.
With gratitude for DDMBA's long-term support and encouragement, the young participants promised to bring what they have learned during the conference back to their own communities, and take it as the provision to further explore the issue of climate change and to protect their local communities and the earth in the face of challenges. They also hope to actively speak out for climate issues, Mother Earth, and future generations on the international stage.
Original Chinese report for Dharma Drum Monthly / Ven. Chang Ji (常濟法師) and Ven. Guo Chan (果禪法師) while in Dominican Republic
Photo probided by Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association (DDMBA)
Translated by Li Siang-ling
Edited by Keith Brown, YKL