UNEP'S
FAITH FOR EARTH COALITION
OVERVIEW
UNEP's Faith for Earth Coalition was a programme that ran from 2017-2025, as a platform for faith leaders and communities to contribute to environmental action and the Sustainable Development Goals. Recognising faith communities as custodians of far-reaching, value-based perspectives on environmental sustainability, it aimed to strengthen environmental policymaking by integrating faith-based perspectives. Read about its key areas of focus.
As the Faith for Earth Coalition transitions toward decentralised leadership, UNEP acknowledges that faith actors are uniquely positioned to operate beyond formal regulatory systems, drawing on moral principles, cultural influence, and grassroots engagement to effect lasting change.
'We need the moral voice and spiritual authority of faith leaders globally to summon the conscience of world leaders, awaken their ambition, and inspire them to do what is needed.'
– António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS
Iyad Abumoghli, Director of the Faith for Earth Coalition, said when the Faith for Earth strategy was developed in 2017, 'our collective vision was to build a self-sustaining, inclusive, and action-oriented coalition'. In its eight years of work, 'We have established a global network of more than 8,000 members; three vibrant councils of youth, women, and senior faith leaders; and a growing movement that has engaged with governments, influenced policies, and inspired communities across the globe.'
The Faith for Earth Coalition also established three thematic Communities of Practice which continue under the leadership of members of the interfaith councils to inspire global faith-based efforts on climate action, nature and pollution.
'Our collective vision was to build a self-sustaining, inclusive, and action-oriented coalition'
– Iyad Abumoghli
KEY AREAS OF ACTIVITY
The Faith for Earth Coalition focused on the following Communities of Practice.
FAITH AND CLIMATE ACTION
Faith leaders are sounding the alarm against extreme and erratic climate events on local communities, highlighting existing inequalities that women, children, the underprivileged and most vulnerable members of society face. Our partners at the Yale Forum for Religion and Ecology (Yale FORE) have compiled Climate Change Statements from World Religions.
At the same time, their institutions are leading by example – communicating the science of climate change through sermons, transitioning houses of worship to renewable infrastructure, divesting from fossil fuels, advocating for climate justice, deploying faith-owned infrastructure and nature-based solutions in disaster recovery, and much more.
Click below for examples of faith action on climate change.
FAITH AND NATURE ACTION
Nature is a unifying factor held sacred and offers a common thread that speaks to the role of humanity and its relationship across all religions and spiritualities with the earth.
Discover faith leaders' commitment to #GenerationRestoration with messages of support by His Holiness Pope Francis and by His Eminence Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of al-Azhar during the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030).
Once more in 2024, Faith Leaders renew their calls of support for Our Land. Our Future. in commemoration of World Environment Day. Discover more stories and resources on faith action below.
FAITH AND POLLUTION ACTION
Driven by a moral and ethical duty that informs a deep commitment to serving the vulnerable and marginalised, faith actors lead the way in promoting inclusive, green and transformative lifestyles, reinforcing a positive relationship between people and the planet.
The Interfaith Working Group on Plastic works to:
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Bring a faith voice to Plastics Treaty negotiations
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Share inspiring stories of small campaigns that have made a big difference
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Inspire faith communities to make change at a national level
Learn more about faith-based action on pollution by clicking below to download the Pollution Catalogue.
INTERFAITH WOMEN COUNCIL
Women of faith are key actors in environment protection and in faith-led sustainability efforts. The Interfaith Women's Council is a platform for amplifying diverse women's voices in global environmental decision-making.
It advises UNEP on gender dimensions of environmental issues and works to ensure that women of faith are present and heard in key global forums.
FAITH FOR EARTH YOUTH COUNCIL
Faith for Earth launched a Youth Council in 2022 to convene faith-based youth groups globally engaged in the movement on religion, spirituality, and the environment.
The purpose is to ensure that the voices of young people of faith are heard so that they can contribute to global environmental meetings, particularly on key issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
ACHIEVEMENT REPORTS
Discover all that the Faith for Earth Coalition achieved in eight years in its achievement reports below.
'Faith actors bring a unique and indispensable contribution to global environmental efforts – anchoring the science-policy discourse in values, ethics, and moral responsibility. Your work has powerfully demonstrated that addressing the triple planetary crisis is not only a scientific and technical imperative but also a moral and spiritual obligation'
– Iyad Abumoghli, Director of the Faith for Earth Coalition (2017-2025)
FAITH FOR EARTH DIALOGUE
UNEP’s Environmental Governance sub-programme strengthens institutions, laws, and policies to ensure transparent, inclusive, and accountable environmental management at all levels.
It emphasises the crucial role of civil society – including faith-based and religious actors – in promoting environmental stewardship, advancing environmental rights, and supporting the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements through advocacy, awareness, and community action.
The Faith for Earth Dialogue, hosted alongside UNEA, is an opportunity to demonstrate how inter-religious and intercultural dialogue can foster greater inclusivity and participation, both among religious actors in intergovernmental processes, with policy-makers, and the range of stakeholders from women, to the youth, local communities, indigenous people, scientists, farmers, and more.
It places an emphasis on the common good for the environment seeking to promote mutual understanding and cooperation.
ROLE OF SPIRITUAL ETHICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE
This joint Policy Brief by UNEP Faith for Earth Initiative and the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), published in 2021, outlines how adopting an ethics and values-based approach to environmental governance is vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Key guidance documents
Interested in getting a collaboration or a project going with a faith community but not sure where to start? Check out these key guidance documents.
