“Faith for Earth”: an Ethical Approach to Global Environmental Challenges

Abstract For far too long, the engagement of communities in global environmental governance and policy has been limited to civil society organizations that are accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the UN. This has left faith-based organizations on the margins of policy dialogue, unable to make important contributions by bringing moral and spiritual responsibilities and perspectives. Yet faith-based organizations have been providing the needed socioeconomic and charity support to communities for centuries. This paper discusses how environmental issues can be addressed more effectively by building on the intrinsic relationship between religions and faiths and the environment, by relying on their strong attributes and powers. The paper also argues that to bring the different backgrounds and ideologies of religions together on the environment, a non-biased and neutral UN body, such as UNEP ’s Faith for Earth Coalition should act as a convening platform linking faith actors and policy makers. Engagement with faith actors can come with perceived challenges that require concerted and collective efforts to overcome as discussed in this paper.