Religious groups pledge to go green

Earlier this month (2-4 November) an event at London’s Windsor Castle brought together religious leaders from all major faith traditions to discuss initiatives that such groups can partake to help the fight against climate change. The event, which only served vegan food because it is the only one suitable to all types of faith, was called Faith Commitments for a Living Planet and was co-hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and organized by Prince Philip’s Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC).

There’s good reason to attract the support of religious groups to the green cause. According to the ARC, faith-based groups own nearly eight percent of habitable land on Earth, operate dozens of media groups and more than half the world’s schools, and control seven percent of financial investments worth trillions. All the main world religions in theory condemn greed and destructiveness and urge restraint and protection.

The event launched dozens of long-term commitments by all the major faith traditions including: transitioning to solar-powered Taoist Temples in China; creating faith-based eco-labelling systems in Islam, Hinduism and Judaism and greening all types of religious buildings; protecting sacred forests; developing ethical investment policies; printing sacred books on environmentally-friendly paper; and creating educational programs through formal and informal education.

Religion will also be on the table at the Copenhagen climate summit next month. A panel discussion titled Many Heavens: One Earth – Faiths, the Environment and Copenhagen is part of the program.

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