Sister Jayanti has headed the BK delegation to the United Nations COP Climate Change Conferences since 2009.
Previous Speaking Engagements at UN Conferences include:
2019
- Inspiring Courage to Act and Adapt in a Climate Emergency. Speaker with Bishop Philip Huggins (National Council of Churches, Australia, Dr Mark Lawrence (Inst. for Advanced Sustainability Studies), Andrea Carmen (International Indian Treaty Council), Rev Chebon Kernell (World Council of Churches), Ben Schachter (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights), Ana Villalobos (Delegation of Costa Rica). Moderated by Lindsey Fielder Cook, Quaker UNO. COP25, Madrid
- Press conference with Pranita Biswasi (secretary for youth, Lutheran World Federation, Switzerland), Detmer Kremer, (Quaker UNO) and Jamie Williams (Islamic Relief), moderated by Henrik Grape, Senior Advisor Sustainability, World Council of Churches, COP25, Madrid.
2018
- Press conference with Pranita Biswasi (secretary for youth, Lutheran World Federation, Switzerland), Finola Finnan (deputy executive director, Trócaire, Ireland) and Bishop Marc Handley Andrus (diocese of California, Episcopal Church, USA). ‘Interfaith co-operation on climate change’. COP24: Climate Change Conference. Organised by Interfaith Liaison Committee. International Congress Centre, Katowice, Poland.
- Panellist with Dr Andrzej Kassenberg (co-founder and president, Institute for Sustainable Development, Poland), Joachim Golo Pilz (director, Solar Research Institute, India) and Monica Sadkowska (climate activist, Poland), and facilitated by Prof Piotr Skubala (ecologist, University of Silesia, Poland) and Dr Ryszard Kulik (psychologist and environmental activist, Council of All Beings, Poland). ‘Healthy minds, healthy people, healthy planet’. COP24: Climate Change Conference. Organised by Brahma Kumaris. Cultural Centre. Katowice, Poland.
- Speaker (representing inter-faith community) with Maarten van Aalst (director, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Netherlands), Jagan Chapagain (under secretary general, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Switzerland), Saleemul Huq (director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, UK), Deon Nel (CEO, Global Resilience Partnership, Sweden), Jane Madgwick (CEO, Wetlands International, Netherlands), and others. ‘Scaling up investments in climate resilience to meet the needs of vulnerable people’. COP24: Climate Change Conference. Organised by The Climate Resilience Network. International Congress Centre, Katowice, Poland.
- Panellist with Isabel Cavelier Adarve (senior advisor, Mission 2020, USA), Archbishop Bernadito Auza (permanent observer to the UN, the Holy See, USA), Martin Frick (senior director of policy and programe co-ordination, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Germany), Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (co-ordinator, Association des Femmes Peules Autochtones du Tchad, Chad) and Dr Debra Roberts (co-chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II, South Africa). ‘Building a spirit of solidarity to overcome the climate crisis’. COP24: Climate Change Conference. Organised by Brahma Kumaris, Religious Society of Friends and Society of Saint Francis. International Congress Centre, Katowice, Poland.
- Press conference with Sonja Ohlsson (international co-ordinator, Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative, Denmark) and Joachim Golo Pilz (director, Solar Research Institute, India). ‘Visionary leadership to change hearts and minds for immediate action’. COP24: Climate Change Conference. Organised by Brahma Kumaris. International Congress Centre, Katowice, Poland.
- Dialogue with Jeffrey Gitterman (co-founder, Gitterman Wealth Management; thought leader in the field of sustainable impact, and environmental, social, and governance investing), Filiz Odabas-Geldiay (executive director, International Association for Human Values; director of government relations, Art of Living Foundation) and Atanas Grozdev (programme analyst, UNFPA), facilitated by Luis Mora (chief of Gender, Human Rights and Culture Branch, UNFPA). ‘Transforming our minds and hearts to transform the world’. Defining transformation within the sustainable development agenda. Organised by UNFPA. United Nations Population Fund, New York, USA.
2014
- Panellist with Rev. Fletcher Harper (executive director, GreenFaith, USA), Archbishop Emeritus Anders Wejryd (president for Europe, World Council of Churches, Sweden). ‘Faith communities, divestment and renewable energy’, Interfaith Climate Change Summit. Organised by World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace. Saint Peter’s Church, New York City, USA.
2013
- Panellist with Rev. Fletcher Harper (executive director, GreenFaith, USA), Archbishop Emeritus Anders Wejryd (president for Europe, World Council of Churches, Sweden). ‘Faith communities, divestment and renewable energy’, Interfaith Climate Change Summit. Organised by World Council of Churches and Religions for Peace. Saint Peter’s Church, New York City, USA.
- Meditation leader. COP 19: Sustainable Innovation Forum. Organised by Climate Action and UNEP. Intercontinental Hotel, Warsaw, Poland.
- Leader of BK delegation. COP19: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by UN. National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland.
- Speaker with HE Silvano M Tomasi (Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer for the Holy See to the United Nations in Geneva), Dr Alfred De Zayas (UN Independent Expert, Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order), Dr Fawzia Al Ashmawi (Representative, International Islamic Relief Organisation), Mr Heinz Ferschin (Buddha’s Light International Association) and others. The Role of faith and religion in strengthening and maintaining peace and human rights. Organised by Spanish Society for International Human Rights Law, International Observatory on the Human Rights to Peace, International Association of Peace Messenger Cities and Foundation Dialogue Among Civilisations. Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.
2012
- Leader of BK delegation. COP18: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by UN. Doha, Qatar.
- Meditation leader. COP 18: Sustainable Innovation Forum. Organised by Climate Action and UNEP. Hotel Intercontinental, Doha, Qatar.
- Leader of BK delegation. Rio+20: UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Organised by UN. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2011
- Leader of BK delegation and panellist. COP17: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by UN. Climate, Justice and Food Security, Moral, Ethical and Spiritual Imperatives. UKZN, Durban, South Africa.
2010
- Leader of BK delegation. COP 16: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by UN. Cancun, Mexico.
- Panellist with Rev. Dr Joan Brown Campbell (Director, Department of Religion, Chautauqua Institution, USA), Ven. Chang Ji (Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association, USA), Richard Cizik (Founder, New Evangelicals USA), Sraddhalu Ranade (Scientist and Teacher, Sri Aurobindo Ashram India), Sister Joan Chittister (author and Benedictine nun, USA). ‘Inner Dimensions of Climate Change’. COP 16: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by Global Peace Initiative of Women. Cancun, Mexico.
2009
- Leader of BK delegation. Contributor to Press Conference. ‘Climate and Consciousness’. COP 15: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by UN. Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Moderator of panel discussion with Prof Wangari Maathai (Nobel Laureate, Kenya), Dr Maurice F. Strong (Former UN Under-Secretary-General, Canada), Prof Dr Phra Dharmakosajarn (Rector MCU, Thailand), Dr Vandana Shiva (Environmentalist, India) and Swami Veda Bharati (Sadhana Mandir Ashram, India). ‘Voices of Hope: Responding to the Call of the Earth’. COP 15: UN Climate Change Conference. Organised by Global Peace Initiative of Women. National Museum, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Contributor. ‘Spirit and Science in agreement on the Climate Crisis’. COP 15: UN Climate Change Conference. Press event. Organised by The Interfaith Declaration on Climate Change and 350.org. Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Guest speaker with the Rt Hon Bishop Charles Caruana (Chief Minister, Gibraltar) and others. ‘Discover the Heart and Peace of Happiness’. United Nations International Day of Peace. Sponsored by the Alwani Trust. John Mackintosh Hall, Gibraltar, UK.
2002
- Member of BK delegation. World Summit on Sustainable Development. Organised by UN. Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Speaker. ‘Dignity and Ageing’. ‘The elders’ responsibility as promoters of peace. From inner peace to world peace’. 2nd World Assembly on Ageing. Organised by UN. Madrid, Spain.
2001
- Speaker. Women as Actors for Human Well-Being and Economic Security. Organised by Special committee of International NGOs on Human Rights (Geneva). Brussels, Belgium.
2000
- Member of BK delegation. Millennium World Peace Summit. Organised by The World Council of Religious Leaders. United Nations, New York NY, USA.
- Panellist with Alfredo Sfeir-Younis (World Bank Special Representative to the UN & WTO, Geneva), Alphonse MacDonald (Director UNFPA Office, Geneva) and Dadi Janki (Co-Administrative Head, BKWSU) ‘Poverty, Marginalization and Destitution: Can These Be Eradicated?’ Geneva 2000 Forum: The Human Aspects of Social Integration. Organised by UN. Geneva, Switzerland.
- Speaker. Statement to the Ad Hoc Committee. Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Social Development. Organised by UN. Geneva, Switzerland.
1995
- Workshop presenter. 4th World Conference on Women – Action for Equality, Development and Peace. Organised by UN. Beijing, China.
- Workshop presenter. NGO Forum on Women. Organised by UN. Huairou, China.
1992
- Participant. Preparatory meetings leading up to the Rio Earth Summit. Organised by UN. Geneva, Switzerland.
- Participant. Preparatory meetings leading up to the Rio Earth Summit. Organised by UN. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1989
- Speaker with the His Grace Robert Runcie (Archbishop of Canterbury, UK). 3rd Convocation of World Thanksgiving. Organised by UN. Roman Catholic University, Dallas TX, USA.
- Speaker. Seeking the True Meaning of Peace. Organised by University for Peace. UN University of Peace, San Jose, Costa Rica.
- Speaker. Building Understanding and Respect Between People of Diverse Religions or Beliefs. Organised by UN. Warsaw, Poland.
- Presenter. Mount Abu Declaration. Presentation. Organised by BKUN. Geneva, Switzerland.
1988
- Speaker. Building Understanding and Respect Between People of Diverse Religions or Beliefs. Organised by UN. Geneva, Switzerland.
- Speaker. ‘Together for Peace’. World Day of Peace Conference. Organised by UN NGOs. Geneva, Switzerland.
1986
- Speaker. Together for Peace. Organised by UN NGOs. Geneva, Switzerland.
- Speaker. ‘Cultural Diversity and the Common Ground’. 18th SID World Congress: World Development: Risks and Opportunity. Organised by Society of International Development. Rome, Italy.
1983
- Member of the Working Committee. Pacem in Terris Society (Peace on Earth Society). Organised by UN. New York NY, USA.