On 7 July 2026, the opening day of the 2026 High Level Political Forum, the Multi-Faith Advisory Council (MFAC) to the United Nations Inter-agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (IATF) held its annual Kofi Annan Faith Briefing. SGI serves as one of the MFAC co-chairs and has been an Advisory Group member since 2021. After opening remarks from the IATF and MFAC co-chairs, two panels addressed the theme of “Adapting, Adopting and Adjusting to Change: The Role of Faith Actors in Advancing Ethical, Inclusive and Innovative Pathways for the 2030 Agenda.” 

The briefing focused on the role faith actors can play in connecting global policy with local realities. In one of the panel discussions, Hiro Sakurai of SGI shared an initiative of “Regional Studies” by local Soka Gakkai youth in Tohoku, Japan to address the challenges of an aging population. An expert group predicted that 40% of municipalities will be at risk of extinction, 70% of which are located in Tohoku. He pointed out that “what makes their approach unique is that it moves away from the idea of lending support, providing support, and instead focuses on drawing out what they (the local communities) already possess…. This shift of thinking was inspired by the Buddhist teaching of ‘inspiring or awakening life from within’ rather than imposing on people’s minds, taking into account the lifestyles and culture of each region.” 

Other speakers addressed the challenges and solutions in ensuring that future advances in innovation and technology, including AI, will place human dignity at the center. Faith actors, speakers shared, can make an impact by demanding moral leadership in discussions on artificial intelligence. Inclusive, intergenerational leadership was also mentioned as an important component in adapting, adopting and adjusting to change.

For a more detailed recap of the event, read the report or watch the recording.