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  • Sikh Faith Statement on the Environment

    This Sikh faith statement on the environment, based on the 1995 Windsor Statements, is posted on the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. Below is the introduction to the statement:

    "The Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, declares that the purpose of human beings is to achieve a blissful state and to be in harmony with the earth and all creation. It seems, however, that humans have drifted away from that ideal. For the earth is today saturated with problems. It is agonizing over the fate of its inhabitants and their future! It is in peril as never before. Its lakes and rivers are being choked, killing its marine life. Its forests are being denuded. A smoky haze envelops the cities of the world. Human beings are exploiting human beings."

  • Anglican Views on Climate Change - a report compiled by the Climate Institute of Australia

    Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development posted a report, compiled by the Climate Institute of Australia, on Anglican views of climate change. A predominant them includes the toll that greed and selfishness takes on God's creation. It focuses on specific actions that individuals can take to reduce energy usage and foster environmental justice for the world population.

  • Engaged Organizations: Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus

    Sadhana is a non-profit organization that is committed to promoting environmental and social justice through the values of the Hindu faith. The NYC Service website summarizes what Sadhana is about:

    "We have mobilized Hindus in New York City and beyond to stand up for social justice causes including environmental justice, racial and economic justice, gender equity, immigrant rights, and anti-casteism. We bring a Hindu voice to the interfaith justice movement. We have chapters and members around the country and abroad. We engage and mobilize progressive Hindus nationally and internationally using social media."

  • Declaration of Religious Leaders, Political Leaders, Business Leaders, Scientists and Development Practitioners

    Business and political leaders, and scientists from around the world have congregated at the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences to address the climate change crisis. The introduction to the declaration is stated below:

    "We the undersigned have assembled at the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences to address the challenges of human-induced climate change, extreme poverty, and social marginalization, including human trafficking, in the context of sustainable development. We join together from many faiths and walks of life, reflecting humanity’s shared yearning for peace, happiness, prosperity, justice, and environmental sustainability.

    We have considered the overwhelming scientific evidence regarding human-induced climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and the vulnerabilities of the poor to economic,social, and environmental shocks."

  • Catholic Bishops' statement in Lima on the road to Paris

    During the High-level event at the COP20 in Lima, Bishops from around the world called for a fair and legally binding climate agreement to be signed at the COP21 in Paris, 2015. One segment of the introduction is shown below:

    "Following the evangelical option for the poor, we work closely with the most vulnerable communities and the excluded and as such are closely attuned to how the problem of climate change is affecting them. Our message to political leaders and all people of good will is rooted in the experience and suffering of these poor communities.

    Humankind on the Planet Earth is ordained to live in equity, justice and dignity, peace and harmony in the midst of the order of Creation. Humankind is ordered to treat respectfully Creation, which has a value in itself. We Catholic Bishops recognize the atmosphere, rainforests, oceans and agricultural land as common good that require our care."

  • Address at the United Nations Climate Change Conference given by H.E. Archbishop James Patrick Green

    H.E. Archbishop James Patrick Green provides a statement on the impact of climate change on poverty at the United Nations Conference in Lima, Peru on December 10, 2014. He discusses the interdependence of humans and the Earth. He emphasizes Pope Francis's call for intervention to fight against global warming in order to protect the planet and, in particular, those at the poverty level.

  • America Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) Creation Justice Congregations Bulletin

    America Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA) has created a bulletin insert that discusses how congregations can earn certificates of achievement for implementing eco-justice measures. Further details are discussed below:

    "Creation Justice Congregations is an environmental education, stewardship, and justice program sponsored by the Creation Justice Network of the American Baptist Churches USA. Through this program your congregation can earn certificates of achievement for implementing eco-justice measures in your building, within your congregations, and in your ministries of outreach and justice.

    Creation Justice Congregations has three stages, each with a checklist of suggested education, worship, and other action items that can help bring Baptist churches into the wider movement for peace, justice, and reconciliation with all of God's creation. "

  • Message of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the Day of the Protection of the Environment

    Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople delivered a speech on January 9, 2018 for the Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Environment. The following one salient excerpt from the speech:

    "The Ecumenical Patriarchate’s ecological initiatives provided a stimulus for theology to showcase the environmentally-friendly principles of Christian anthropology and cosmology as well as to promote the truth that no vision for humanity’s journey through history has any value if it does not also include the expectation of a world that functions as a real “home” (oikos) for humanity, particularly at a time when the ongoing and increasing threat against the natural environment is fraught with the possibility of worldwide ecological destruction. This evolution is a consequence of a specific choice of economic, technological and social development that respects neither the value of the human being nor the sanctity of nature. It is impossible to truly care for human beings while at the same time destroying the natural environment as the very foundation of life, essentially undermining the future of humanity."

  • Episcopalians Confronting Climate Change

    This article discusses American Episcopalians' concern over climate change and the impact with regard to those facing poverty. The introduction to the article is stated below:

    "In September 2011, the House of Bishops in the Episcopal Church, attending a meeting in Quito, Ecuador, sent a pastoral letter to Episcopal clergy worldwide expressing 'mounting urgency' to address climate change within church membership. The letter argued the critical need for Christians to care for all of God’s creation and urged that justice be sought for the poor, who it said will suffer most from climate change."

  • Preachable Moments: Evangelical Christians and Climate Change

    This article by Yale Climate Connections provides encouraging news of how some evangelical Christians are re-examining their stance on climate change. The following is an excerpt from the article:

    "About 60 percent of evangelicals think climate change has nothing to do with human activities. By comparison, less than half of all Americans, or 47 percent, share that view. (Both figures are in sharp contrast to the overwhelming majority of climate scientists who agree that climate change is occurring and primarily caused by human actions).

    Richard Cizik sees climate change as ‘top-tier issue’ for younger evangelicals. But the theological doors are beginning to open. Signs are that more evangelicals now are addressing climate change as a moral issue that appeals to the conscience of their Christian communities."

  • Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action

    This statement on climate change from members of the Evangelical Climate Initiative encourages church leaders and congregation members do what they can to take action to protect the Earth. A brief description of the group is provided below:

    "The Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) is a group of over 300 senior evangelical leaders in the United States who are convinced it is time for our country to help solve the problem of global warming. We seek to do so in a way that creates jobs, cleans up our environment, and enhances national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, thereby creating a safe and a healthy future for our children. Our deep commitment to Jesus Christ and his commands to love our neighbors, care for “the least of these,” and be proper stewards of His creation compels us to act. Our views are articulated on the ECI statement page."

  • ELCA issues statement on Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change

    In an effort to demonstrate solidarity of interfaith-based environmental action, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released a statement in support of Pope Francis's encyclical on climate change. The following concluding excerpt emphasizes the movement of solidarity within the statement:

    "Today we join with Pope Francis in calling on world leaders to embrace our common responsibility as work continues toward a global agreement on climate change. We urge leaders to support an ambitious agreement that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, encourages development of low-carbon technologies, and supports the ability of countries to cope with the effects of a changing climate and build resiliency for a sustainable future."

  • Lutherans Reflect on Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

    This article discusses some of the sentiments regarding proceedings from the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. While some attendees expressed disappointment in the outcome, others were more optimistic about steps which may lead to more effective action for climate change in the future. The following excerpt provides a brief description of the event:

    "More than 3,000 ELCA members, along with a coalition of U.S. faith leaders, sent some 20,000 postcards to President Barack Obama, urging him to be at the meeting, she said. Obama attended the conference and urged leaders of Brazil, China, India and South Africa to join the United States 'to fund developing nations' projects to deal with droughts,
    floods and other impacts of climate change, and to develop clean energy,' among other agreements, according to a U.N. news release."

  • Why Lutherans Care for Creation

    This article discusses how various concepts of Lutheran theology are woven into ecological messages with regard to God as creator, human interactions, and ways of worship. The following is a section from the introduction of the article, emphasizing human responsibility towards care for the Earth:

    "For Christians, care of the Earth is not an 'environmental cause.' Rather, it is central to our holy calling to treasure the Earth and to care for it as our common home, fully integrating creation-care into our love of God and neighbor. Without sacrificing the transformational effects of the 16th-century Reformation, we are called to embrace an eco-reformation that will re-examine and rethink how we read the Bible, how we can expand the scope of our theology, how we can reconfigure our personal vocation and our common ethic, how we worship, how we organize our church life together, and how we understand ourselves as creatures within creation as a whole. This call to continuing reformation is for the whole church, not solely for the committed. Earth care is not an add-on. It is not just for those who happen to be interested in it. It is a call for all Christians to participate in this great work of our time."

  • Caring for Creation Today

    This video, put forth by the Evangelical Church in America, encourages individuals to act as stewards by both assisting those in need and caring for our land, as God had intended. The salient message is to do what you can to work for change and care for God's creation, as this is our duty as humans.

  • Engaged Organizations: Islamic Society of North America

    The Islamic Society of North America, headquartered in Plainfield, Indiana, has been described as the largest Muslim community in North America. Their vision includes empowerment of the Muslim community to strengthen interfaith relations, increase civic engagement, and promulgate a better understanding of the Islamic faith. They strive for organizational excellence, achieving this in part through their efficient operations, transparency, and financial stability. They seek to achieve their strategic goals by providing high quality programming and services for the Muslim community, increasing opportunities for civic engagement, and hosting an annual convention to gather in large numbers and discuss current issues that are affecting their community.

    Part of the organization's mission is to focus on increasing sustainable practices within the Muslim community. Through the work of the Masjid Development Committee in December 2014, the ISNA Green Masjid Initiative Team was formed as “Green Masjid Task Group” and later renamed the "ISNA Green Initiative." The intent was to create awareness and to provide guidance on transforming mosques/Islamic centers to become more environmentally friendly through the use of sustainable practices.

  • Environmental Stewardship and Conservation

    An article under the Mormon Newsroom from the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that explains the Church teachings and stance regarding environmental stewardship and conservation. The article also links other Church video resources, as well as a few articles, resources, and a book titled, “Stewardship and the Creation: LDS Perspectives on the Environment”. The book is a compilation of 17 essays that aim to inspire Latter-day Saints to strongly consider the importance of being environmental stewards and protecting God’s creations.

  • Overpopulation and the Lifeboat Metaphor: A Critique from an African Worldview

    Many scientists have warned that the earth is nearing overpopulation or has already reached its carrying capacity. Garret Hardin proposed the lifeboat ethics metaphor to address this crisis and proper resource distributions. Okyere-Manu comments that this metaphor does not take into account the African political and cultural worldview. Hardin's metaphor is also reliant on inequality which disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.

  • Himalayan Institute

    Founded in 1969 by the great teacher and humanitarian, Swami Rama, the Himalayan Institute acts on the basis of yoga tradition and Eastern spirituality. Through the living connection to an ancient wisdom tradition of the Himalayan Masters, and the guidance of spiritual head Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, the Himalayan Institute seeks to serve communities across the globe of those who seek to live their spiritual values. The institute provides resources for anyone seeking spiritual wellness such as yoga and meditation training, local retreats and seminars, and domestic and international excursions, frequently taking the form of a trek through the Himalayas. The Himalayan Institute strives for sustainable living in partnership with the community in Honesdale and also in their projects in India and Africa- providing sustainable living, jobs, and farming in several different communities.

  • How to Green your Parish

    This article is about the importance of parishes to participate in environmentally sustainable actions based on Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’. It encourages parishes to strive to become more eco-friendly by taking work together as a community and focusing on change one issue at a time. The article focuses on three main areas: reducing the parishes greenhouse gas, sustaining food and land use, and preserving water.

  • The Wisdom of Houseplants

    There has been a recent rise in the popularity of houseplants. This resource relates aspects of tending to houseplants to different ways you can be more mindful about your own life. Through caring for the houseplants, this web page reminds you to be adaptable, to be patient, and to expand yourself. While also additionally reminding the reader that letting go and paying attention to your physical health are both key in positive personal growth.

  • Dalai Lama's 10 Rules for Success

    This video is the Dalai Lama speaking of how to calm ones mind as well as how to connect with the universe through inter connection of self and creation.

  • Muslims for Progressive Values

    MPV (Muslims for Progressive Values) establishes and nurtures vibrant progressive Muslim communities. We do this by creating opportunities for religious discourse, volunteer and community activities, and cultural events bringing together the arts, spirituality, and social activism.

    Since our inception, we have secured DPI and ECOSOC Special Consultative Status at the U.N., and a founding member of the Alliance of Inclusive Muslims, or AIM, an umbrella organization spanning 13 countries and 17 cities.

    MPV is a progressive Muslim voice on contemporary issues. We voice our perspectives with policy briefs, by participating in civil discourse, engaging with the media and government entities, and by partnering with both Muslim and non-Muslim progressive organizations.

    MPV promotes theologically-sound frameworks for Islamic liberalism. We seek to reinvigorate the Islamic tradition of ijtihad (critical engagement and interpretation of sacred texts) and intellectual discourse. We do this by collaborating with religious scholars and developing position papers on theological issues that are accessible to a wide audience.

    Muslims for Progressive Values has been in existence since 2007. Quietly and diligently, we have been building our progressive community, one city at a time, and now one country at a time. Since its inception, MPV has expanded to include communities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Atlanta, Columbus (OH), New York, Chicago, Boston, Minnesota and The Netherlands.

  • Applying the hard lessons of coronavirus to the biodiversity crisis

    In this article, Jamison Ervin, Manager of Nature for Development at UNDP, summarizes key lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 pandemic and how these can be applied to environmental protection efforts.

  • Nature-Based Solutions Database

    As a part of the Equator Initiative and the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), the Nature-Based Solutions Database connects communities through sharing thousands of viable eco-solutions from 500+ communities across five continents.
    Explore the Solutions Database to learn how outstanding local communities and indigenous peoples around the world are making possible the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through nature-based actions.