FAITH FOR NATURE: MULTI-FAITH ACTION

Inspired to take collective action to protect our shared planet

24.09.2020. Green september

24.09.2020. Green september

In introducing Green September this year, the Bishop of Iceland made specific reference to the Multi-Faith Global Conference. During Green September

read more

People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships

Inspired to take collective action to protect our shared planet

ObJectives

Faith for Nature: Multi-Faith Action is a global event designed to lay the foundation for inter-faith collaboration for sustainable and regenerative development to achieve the SDGs. The concept and objectives of this conference will be in support of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly to be held in February 2021 in Nairobi with the overall theme “ Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. The Faith for Nature Conference will have the following objectives and outcomes: 

A) Identify the relevance and way forward in mobilizing values, ethics, spirituality and faith-based action to achieve the SDGs.

 B) Empower faith-based organizations in taking action for the SDGs and to cooperate for sustainable and regenerative development, with a view to endorsing the establishment of a global Faith for Earth Coalition.

Recorded Sessions from Event

ORGANISATION

The conference will be opened by a global digital and a High-Level event on 5 October 2020. The opening will be followed-up by workshop discussions in hubs in the different regions of UNEP on 5 and 6 October. 

On 7 October the conclusions of the discussions in regions will be communicated to the global hub in Iceland which will integrate and consolidate the results both from a global and regional perspective. The findings of the overall discussions will be endorsed and communicated through a global High-Level event on 8 October.

Regional hubs

Iceland Global hub

Asia and Australia (Bangkok)

Africa (Nairobi)

Europe (Geneve)

North America (New York)

South America (São Paulo)

Faith forms the basis of people’s values.

People need to be reached close to their hearts and inspired to take collective action to protect our shared planet.

The potential benefits of structurally and systematically involving FBOs and religious actors in working for the SDG is considerable. Spiritual values drive more than 80% of the people living on earth, giving faith leadership perhaps unparalleled capacity to influence individual behaviours. FBOs are close to their communities which see them as being trustworthy with a high level of credibility.

This combined with the local networks and dynamism of FBOs enables them to generate action and achieve results in the communities where they operate. Globally, FBOs manage 50% of schools, run more media channels than the whole of the European Union and are considered the fourth largest group of investors worldwide.

Some individual faith-based aid agencies have country programs with larger budgets than the government ministries to which they relate.

Perhaps most importantly, faith connects directly with and forms the basis of people’s values. People need to be reached close to their hearts and inspired to take collective action to protect our shared planet.

Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. –Hans Christian