Symposium on Inner Dimensions of Climate Change, Emphasize on Spiritual Environmental Protection as the Foundation of Sustainability

On October 13, 2025, the "Symposium on Inner Dimensions of Climate Change," jointly hosted by the Sheng Yen Education Foundation, National Taiwan University's (NTU) International Degree Program in Climate Change and Sustainable Development (IPCS) and the Central Weather Administration (CWA), was held at the NTU Shih-Liang International Conference Hall. Local and international experts, scholars, NTU students, and environmentally conscious individuals gathered at the event to discuss the profound challenges of climate change through dialogues informed by science, policy, and spiritual considerations.

As early as 1992, Dharma Drum Mountain Founder Master Sheng Yen proposed the "Four Kinds of Environmentalism," which entails protecting the spiritual, social, living and natural environment. With Protecting the Spiritual Environment at the core of these four, he asserted that as long as we possess the ability to safeguard our mind, we can remain undisturbed and maintain stability and ease regardless of external circumstances. In this way, we can not only find inner peace but also embrace others and our environment with loving care and hope. This idea echoes the theme of this symposium: climate change is not merely a threat to the external environment, but, more so, an internal challenge, leading to widespread feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and restlessness.

In his opening speech, Sheng Yen Education Foundation Chairman Dr. Tsay Ching-Yen (蔡清彥) stressed that the "Dharma Drum Net Zero" project promoted by the foundation is not simply a carbon reduction initiative. More importantly, its guiding principle revolves around "Protecting the Spiritual Environment," cultivating social resilience and guiding people toward calm states of mind in the face of global climate tipping points. In their respective speeches, NTU College of Science Dean Yeh Su-Ling (葉素玲), CWA Deputy Director Hong Jing-Shan (洪景山), and IPCS Director Luo Ming-Hui (羅敏輝) emphasized the necessity of integrating spiritual strength into science and policy.

Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation Director Yu Chu-Chun (游筑鈞), Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts Professors Liu Yi-Ning (劉怡寧) and Zhan Chang (詹場), and Dharma Drum Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation Six Ethics of the Mind Lecturer Lu Shi-Zhen (盧世珍), together with several other distinguished guests, attended this event and participated in the discussions. Venerable Chang Ji (DDMBA's representative to the UN) delivered the keynote speech, "You Don't Have to Fix Everything First," reminding participants that it is crucial to maintain a healthy, positive, and caring attitude in the face of climate challenges. This entails not merely mindlessly chasing external phenomena, but uncovering the roots of these problems to formulate effective action plans and persevering in their implementation. The subsequent academic reports and cross-disciplinary research showcased NTU's innovative achievements in climate change studies.

The international "Symposium on Inner Dimensions of Climate Change: Tipping Points Are More Imminent Than We Expect" was hosted by Ven. Chang Ji and featured several international experts, including Daniel Abreu Mejia, UNESCO and Presidential Consultant of the Dominican Republic; Reem AlMealla, Bahrain's first female marine ecologist (Nuwat for Environmental Research & Education); Alex Epstein from the U.S.-based nonprofit Root Catalyst; Shephali Patel, scholar at Oregon State University; and Ramphai Noikaew (Gregory Pettys), representative of the Panya Forest Community in Thailand. These experts shared their perspectives on policy, research, and community practices, collectively echoing Master Sheng Yen’s vision: only by cultivating genuine caring in our hearts can we naturally extend loving care and compassion to others and all sentient beings. Only when our minds are settled and at peace can social cohesion be achieved, enabling collective action to address climate change.

Sheng Yen Education Foundation stated that this symposium not only exhibited Taiwan's proactive participation in global climate resolutions, but more importantly conveys a deeper message – true sustainability begins with protecting the spiritual environment. Only when people's minds are calm and united can our society strive towards peace, and create a brighter future filled with hope for Mother Earth.



Original text in Chinese: Sheng Yen Education Foundation
Foto：李東陽, 陳瑞
Translation: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁)
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL