Rome, 30 June–3 July 2026
Representatives of Religions for Peace Europe participated in the 9th Annual Conference of the European Academy of Religion (EuARe2026), held at LUISS University in Rome from 30 June to 3 July 2026. Under the theme “Religion and (In)Equalities,” the conference brought together more than 1,100 scholars, experts, and institutional representatives from around the world to discuss the role of religion in addressing contemporary inequalities and global challenges.
As part of the conference, the panel “Facing Global Challenges – Environmental and Peace Education in Interreligious Cooperation for Teacher Training” was chaired by Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Naurath from Augsburg University and President of Religions for Peace Germany. The panel also featured contributions by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Genti Kruja and Prof. Dr. Joan Hernández Serret, who explored the links between interreligious education, environmental responsibility, peacebuilding, and teacher training.
During his presentation, Prof. Genti Kruja, President of Religions for Peace Europe and Secretary General of the Interreligious Council of Albania, introduced the Erasmus+ project “Interreligious Environmental and Peace Education”. He explained that the project connects environmental education, peace education, and interreligious dialogue within teacher training. It focuses particularly on the consequences of the climate crisis, climate resilience, climate justice, and the protection of water as a vital, sacred, and shared resource.
In the same panel, Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Naurath addressed transformative learning in times of ecological crisis and compassion as a principle of peace education, while Prof. Joan Hernández Serret presented a pedagogical approach linking local artificial intelligence with interreligious education for sustainability.
The participation of Religions for Peace Europe in the conference reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening interreligious cooperation in education, promoting climate justice and peace, and developing practical partnerships among universities, religious communities, and educational institutions across Europe and beyond.
