Conference

Background

Contemporary global society is increasingly entering an era of polycrisis, a term used to describe the convergence of environmental, economic, social, technological, and geopolitical crises. These interconnected challenges do not occur in isolation. Instead, they amplify and reinforce one another, placing unprecedented pressure on established institutions and demanding innovative forms of cooperation, ethical leadership, and collective responsibility.

As highlighted by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Our Common Agenda, humanity has reached a pivotal moment for collective action. This moment calls for integrated approaches that uphold human dignity, promote peace, and advance sustainable development across borders and generations.

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence and digital technologies are also reshaping the global information environment. They affect how people communicate, access knowledge, participate in governance, and engage in public life. While these technologies offer significant opportunities for education, innovation, and social development, they also present serious risks, including algorithmic bias, online hate speech, misinformation, and deepfakes.

These developments raise urgent questions about human dignity, accountability, ethical standards, and responsible participation in digital spaces. Addressing them requires digital global citizenship grounded in ethical literacy, critical thinking, human rights, social inclusion, and a shared commitment to the public good.

In this context, higher education and spiritual traditions have a unique role in cultivating ethical awareness, reflective consciousness, compassion, and planetary responsibility. Universities and educational institutions can provide spaces for moral reflection, interdisciplinary inquiry, and civic engagement, equipping individuals to act with empathy, integrity, and social responsibility.

The 2026 ICCGC-WFB Global Conference calls upon educational institutions, religious communities, civil society, businesses, and international organizations to develop shared values and practical strategies for navigating the polycrisis. Together, they can cultivate minds and ethical practices that support sustainable decision-making, collective responsibility, global solidarity, and respect for all life on Earth.

---

Dialogue Among University Presidents

Happy Workplace in Higher Education

University presidents and academic leaders will discuss how institutions of higher education can create healthy, inclusive, ethical, and supportive workplaces. The dialogue will consider leadership, organizational culture, well-being, cooperation, and the responsibility of universities to model the values they seek to cultivate in society.

Dialogue for Peace

Can Spiritual Education Lead Us from Polycrisis to Peace?

This dialogue brings together keynote speakers and religious leaders to reflect on whether spiritual education can guide humanity from an era of polycrisis toward a more peaceful and sustainable future. As interconnected global challenges intensify, lasting solutions require not only structural change but also a deeper transformation of human awareness and values.

The discussion will explore how spiritual traditions and higher education can cultivate ethical consciousness, compassion, and planetary responsibility. It will consider how education and spirituality can work together to enable a meaningful transition from crisis to peace.

---

Panel Session 1: Global Crisis

Religious and Civil Society Responses to the Polycrisis

Environmental, economic, geopolitical, technological, and social disruptions increasingly interact and reinforce one another. These interconnected crises challenge established institutions and demand innovative forms of cooperation, ethical leadership, and collective responsibility.

This session explores how religious traditions and civil society initiatives can contribute to addressing the polycrisis. Participants will examine strategies for fostering global solidarity, promoting ethical collaboration, and advancing planetary responsibility.

Panel Session 2: Ethics and Justice

Ethics, Justice, and Civic Responsibility in the Age of Polycrisis

The age of polycrisis has intensified social inequalities, political polarization, and conflict within and across societies. Economic instability, geopolitical tensions, and rapid social transformation have deepened divisions and raised urgent questions about justice, moral responsibility, and peaceful coexistence.

This session examines how ethical frameworks, religious teachings, and civic initiatives can strengthen social responsibility and promote justice. Participants will explore approaches that foster inclusive social structures, community resilience, reconciliation, and shared moral accountability.

Panel Session 3: Planetary Responsibility

Climate Crisis, Ecological Responsibility, and the Economy of Life

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation threaten ecosystems, livelihoods, and long-term human well-being. These challenges demand a fundamental rethinking of humanity’s relationship with nature and prevailing economic practices.

This session explores an economy of life that prioritizes ecological balance, social well-being, and respect for all forms of life. Participants will discuss environmental stewardship, ethical economic practices, responsible policy decisions, and global cooperation for a sustainable, life-centered future.

Panel Session 4: Business, AI and Digital Ethics

Business, Digital Ethics, and Global Digital Citizenship in the AI Era

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are transforming communication, education, business, and public participation. While these innovations create new opportunities for connectivity and economic growth, they also present challenges including misinformation, online hate speech, algorithmic bias, and deepfakes.

This session examines the ethical, civic, and business implications of AI-driven environments. Participants will discuss how businesses, education, civil society, religious communities, and international cooperation can promote responsible innovation, global digital citizenship, human dignity, trust, and inclusive digital communities.

Panel Session 5: Human Transformation

Cultivating Ethical Awareness and Planetary Citizenship through Higher Education

In an era of polycrisis and rapid global transformation, education must move beyond the transmission of knowledge to cultivate ethical awareness, reflective consciousness, and planetary responsibility. Spiritual traditions emphasize inner cultivation, compassion, and moral reflection, while educational institutions provide frameworks for translating these values into social practice.

This session examines how spirituality and education can work together to advance Planetary Citizenship Education. Participants will explore strategies for nurturing individuals capable of ethical action, peaceful coexistence, ecological responsibility, and cross-cultural cooperation.

---

Global Citizenship Summit

Towards “We the Peoples of the Earth”: Global Solidarity and Planetary Citizenship in the Age of Polycrisis

The Global Citizenship Summit will bring together representatives from international organizations, religious communities, civil society, academia, business, and youth leadership to reflect on the conference’s central themes.

Participants will consider practical pathways for cross-sector and intergenerational cooperation. The summit will explore how international institutions, faith communities, educational initiatives, civil society movements, and young leaders can translate ethical reflection into collective action and build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable global future.

Parallel Session for Youth

Youth Voice in Action: Spirituality, Education, and Sustainable Development

The youth session will provide a platform for young people to share their perspectives and develop practical ideas for sustainable development, ethical leadership, peace, and planetary citizenship.

Parallel Session for Women

Women’s Voices in a Polycrisis: Narrative, Spirituality, and the Ethics of Hope

This women-led session explores the transformative power of women’s narratives in a time of overlapping global crises. Women’s voices and lived experiences offer essential perspectives for reimagining healing, justice, resilience, and a sustainable future.

Through personal narratives, media, collective memory, reflection, and dialogue, participants will examine how storytelling can challenge dominant discourses, cultivate ethical leadership, strengthen solidarity, and become a powerful force for hope and meaningful social change.

A Shared Commitment to Planetary Citizenship

The ICCGC-WFB 2026 Global Conference invites religious leaders, educators, scholars, civil society organizations, business leaders, policymakers, women, and young people to join this global conversation.

By connecting spirituality, education, ethical practice, and collective action, we can respond to the polycrisis with wisdom and compassion and cultivate a shared commitment to human dignity, peace, sustainability, and the well-being of the Earth.