Transcript Slide 1

A few reflections on faith
and environmental action
3 Stories
Tangiers Island watermen
US Bahá’í community & the DESD
Green Acre Interfaith Collaboration for
Sustainability
Lessons Learned:
1.ROLE OF FAITH COMMUNITIES -- Faith
communities have an essential role to
play in inspiring environmental action,
including action on climate change.
2.POWER OF RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS -When a clear connection is made between
religious teachings and responsible
environmental action it can result in
positive behaviour change.
Lessons Learned:
3.COLLABORATION -- Climate Change is an
issue of such magnitude and urgency that
it requires and inspires people to work
together who may not have done so
before
4.COMMUNITY BUILDING -- Working
together on environmental initiatives,
faith communities (and others) can find
common ground, build trust and extend
their sense of connection to the wider
community.
Challenges ahead:
1. SPREADING THE WORD – building public
awareness – generating political will
2. EXPANDING TOOLS AND CAPACITIES – learning
to better educate for sustainability
3. MAKING THE LINK -- Learning more effectively to
link environmental choices to faith teachings
4. BUILDING COALITIONS -- Fostering interfaith and
other types of coalitions on the local, national and
international levels
5. MEASURING PROGRESS - Strengthening our
ability to measure and gauge progress in applying
spiritual principles to environmental challenges.