Dalai Lama on Climate Change

The world famous Tibetan spiritual leader has spoken out on climate change for the first time, according to a report from Reuters. The Dalai Lama urged governments to put the great global concern before domestic politics, and to take serious action in slowing the rise of global warming.

According to Reuters, the Dalai Lama traveled to Sydney to give a series of talks on climate change, in light of the intense debate taking place on the subject now–Australia’s government is struggling to pass a cap and trade system as we speak. He discussed how individual action is a major part of the solution, and noted how he himself attempts to live frugally and conserves resources in his everyday life.

In Sydney for a series of talks, the Dalai Lama called for individual and collective action to tackle climate change . . . “Taking care of the environment … (is now) part of my life. Taking care of the environment should be part of our daily life.”
An important message to be sure, but the meat of the talks were aimed at inspiring governments around the world to take the necessary measures to combat climate change:
“The elected government, sometimes their number one … priority is national interest, national economy interest, then global issues are sometimes secondary,” said the Dalai Lama. “That, I think, should change. The global issue should be number one. In some cases in order to protect global issues, some sacrifice of national interest (is needed).”