Religious communities can make the difference in winning the fight against climate change: Faith communities across the world together make up an industry that is bigger than most national economies. Through speaking the truth about the state of the planet and exercising uncompromising financial, social and political pressure on governments and corporations, they can shift the balance towards averting the devastation of all we hold sacred on Earth. These communities have the resources and the resilience, but above all the moral responsibility, to do that.
While COP26 ended on November 12, religious communities continue to play a role in the ongoing effort to combat climate change. On December 14 our partners at UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative will convene religious leaders, people of all faiths, and nones for a Global Examen (review) to discern a communal, interfaith response to this important moment in history. Learn more and register for the December 14 webinar.
Pope Francis launches ecology degree course at pontifical university: In October the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome launched a new academic degree program on “Care of our common home and protection of creation.” Pope Francis established this program in cooperation with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to promote “ecological conversion” through the integration of natural and social sciences with theology, philosophy, and ethics. The program also includes a UNESCO Chair “On Futures of Education for Sustainability.” Read more
Faith Communities After Glasgow: An Interfaith Examen of COP26: While COP26 ended on November 12, religious communities continue to play a role in the ongoing effort to combat climate change. On December 14 our partners at UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative will convene religious leaders, people of all faiths, and nones for a Global Examen (review) to discern a communal, interfaith response to this important moment in history. Learn more and register for the December 14 webinar. Read more
The first week after COP26 — a short reflection: ”As people of faith, we believe that we humans are called to take care of our neighbors and of the Earth. We together envision a planet that secures good health, dignified livelihoods, and a future for all living beings including coming generations. Though we represent diverse faith traditions, we are united in calling upon the COP26 to act now on the climate emergency before it is too late.” Here, the Rev. Henrik Grape of the UNFCCC Interfaith Liaison Committe gives a short reflection after COP26. Read more
Stop Hoping. Start Resisting. The Rev. Fletcher Harper of Greenfaith writes a blog on the outcome of COP26 for the World Council of Churches Care of Creation website. If you try hard and believe in the power of positive thinking, you may be able to take comfort that COP26 provided some hope. But if you remove the rose-colored spectacles, it becomes clear that we should abandon the sentiment of hope and commit to lives of faithful resistance. Read the Rev. Fletcher Harper
EcoSattva Training: The EcoSattva Training has been specifically designed to support self-paced and self-scheduled participation, with core video teachings, contemplations, and inquiries. Participate as an individual or member of a small group and then, once a month, join all participants in our live gathering to connect with the global community of EcoSattvas-in-training. Read more
Study Guide – Faith for Earth: A Call for Action: Seattle University Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement has created a course on the UNEP – Faith for Earth program in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program, the Parliament of the World’s Religions and the Henry Luce Foundation to provide a free course for studying the environment from the perspective of the Earth and 12 religions, along with Indigenous Traditions and Youth Voices. Read more
World Wide Teach-in: Climate Justice: Originally published by Open Society University Network ~ The April 6 launch of the OSUN Solve Climate by 2030 webinar series on regional and local climate solutions was a resounding success, with over 20,000 viewers tuning in to more than 100 university-hosted Global Dialogs on the topics of green recovery, alternative policies, and just transitions.
Over half of the webinars were international—streaming from Argentina, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Rwanda, South Africa, Serbia, Singapore, Taiwan, UK, and Uruguay—with another 48 streaming from the US. Over 350 student and faculty volunteer organizers were engaged worldwide, along with over 50 university media professionals and over 300 climate experts. Read more
Post-COP26 – Healing our Earth: Eco Brahmakumaris will conduct a session on Climate Change or else … featuring multiple hosts and speakers worldwide. This is a Post-COP26 global online event on Sunday 5th December 2021 from 2pm till 8pm GMT. Read more
RWE and BlackRock: Stop Destroying Churches and Communities with Coal Mines: GreenFaith made it clear in our statement before COP26 that “Financing must end immediately for new fossil fuel infrastructure.” In mid-October, dozens of courageous Jewish youth and rabbis prayerfully blockaded the entrance to BlackRock’s New York headquarters, calling on the firm’s Jewish CEO to abide by his religion’s values and to stop supporting new fossil fuel projects. Read more
My Faith & the Environment: COP26 Aftermath: Religions for Peace UK Interfaith Youth Network’s ‘My Faith & the Environment’ was put together to give a safe environment and the opportunity to young individuals of faith and none to share their thoughts and good environmental practices with each other and with a wider audience, which includes different age groups and different backgrounds. Religions for Peace UK Interfaith Youth Network will host an online discussion, online on 7 December 2021. All are welcome. Read more
Faith leaders make the moral case for a global just transition away from coal, oil and gas: Leaders across diverse religious and spiritual communities around the globe, call on governments to develop and implement a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Read more
Cambridge Zero: reflections on Glasgow COP 26 beyond the headlines; Dr Joanna Depledge is Fellow at the Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (CEENRG). She has been following the climate change negotiations for more than 25 years, including as a staff member of the UN Climate Change Secretariat and a reporter for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin. Here we introduce her reflections after COP26. Read more
Shared Future, Shared Path: PaRD Members Approve Five-Year Strategy at 2021 General Assembly of Members: PaRD’s 2021 Annual Forum and General Assembly of Members provided first-hand accounts of issues affecting the Global South and explored how to “become more together” through dialogue, learning, and collaboration. Much reflection is given among 8 religions to Religion and SDG’s, and Religion and Covid-19. Read more
COP26: A missed opportunity, but scope to build momentum for climate justice: Operation Noah trustee Shilpita Mathews – an environmental economist and official COP26 observer – and Bright Now Campaign Manager James Buchanan share their experiences and reflections from COP26 in Glasgow. Read more
Nationally Determined Contributions
