Environment

"We act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the Earth for both present and future generations." - URI Principle 10
Blantyre CC cleans up Malawi township


By uniting to address the causes and threats to our shared ecosystem, we honor the sacred life that lives in each of us, the water, the soil and in all species.

Examples of our work in this Action Area:

  • During this time of climate emergency, the URI network is stepping up to make a change. URI is partnering with the Faith for Earth Initiative (UNEP) and other local entities to equip Faith Leaders and community members to respond quickly and effectively to the climate crisis. The project will take place in India, Bosnia, and Lebanon in 2021.
  • In the USA, California Interfaith Power and Light CC makes energy and water conservation improvements to their houses of worship, installing solar panels, holding training programs for other congregations, and lobbying state and local governments for stronger climate policies and investments in renewable energy.
  • Forward in Action for Conservation of Indigenous Species (FACIS) introduced a new strategy of bringing people of different faiths to work together to produce organic food through a sustainable farming called "Biointensive agriculture". In the spirit of togetherness, Muslims and Christians in northern Nigeria work together on the same farmland to learn new but simple, eco-friendly methods of farming while also nurturing relationships. So people who were perceived enemies of one another are now friends working to produce organic food to fight hunger and poverty.
Search for Cooperation Circles (CCs) with a focus on Environment

Stories

Interfaith Actions for the Environment

Read the transcript from our Young Leaders' live chat about interfaith actions for the environment, held on Sunday, July 25th at 14:00 GMT. Themes explored included the importance of caring for creation as expressed in many religious and spiritual traditions, dominion vs. stewardship, sacred practices that get us in touch with the Earth, practical steps on how to make your home and community more eco-friendly, and inspiring examples of interfaith cooperation around the environment in the Middle East. Guest speakers included Karin Kloosterman from www.greenprophet.com and Elyse Ryder from Greenfaith Australia, both URI Cooperation Circles.

Gulf Oil Spill

I recently went to a fund-raiser for the URI CC Interfaith Power and Light. The speaker was the eminent American biologist and author about the global environmental crisis, Dr. E.O. Wilson. It was a fascinating conversation and it got me to thinking about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  What are we saying to God in the face of this catastrophe?