Shaping sustainability
Religions could use their asset base—their ability to shape worldviews and their authority, numbers, material resources, and capacity to build community—to advance the work of sustainability. Each religious tradition will know how it might best use its particular strengths; the mix of actions will vary from tradition to tradition and from place to place. For each of the five asset areas, any number of activities is possible.
Worldview development       
  • Assess teachings; ensure that the natural world is sufficiently represented in worldview development and ethics.
Moral authority
  • Use the pulpit to address the global crisis of sustainability.
  • Use the congregational newsletter, bulletin, or Web site as a platform.
  • Make effective use of the media, through placement of op eds, letters to the editor, and coverage of congregation's environmental activities.
  • Engage political leaders who make decisions affecting sustainability.
Numbers
  • Encourage members to write letters, join boycotts or protests, or in other ways creatively bring their full political weight to bear on these issues.
  • Educate members about consumption and encourage them to consume less and to buy  products that have low environmental impact.
  • Encourage members to shift investments to companies with exemplary environmental and labour records.
Material resources
  • Use physical facilities as a venue for discussing issues of sustainability or for organizing resources sustainability activities.
  • Use physical facilities as a showcase of simplicity and for renewable energy, energy conservation, organic gardening, or other activities that could promote sustainable living.
  • Shift purchasing and investment decisions to favour a sustainable world.
Community
  • Increase bonds of trust and communication, and deepen emotional ties to the environment, by organizing environmentally oriented service activities.
  • Build on existing social ties to support congregants in attempts to simplify their lives.
Initiatives and partnerships
Worldwide Fund for Nature conference, Assisi, Italy, 1986
In the first major meeting of its kind, representatives of five of the world's faiths discuss strategies for helping their communities to assist in protecting the environment.
World Council of Churches (WCC) Climate Change Programme, 1988
The WCC creates a programme to lobby governments and international organizations to fundamentally reorient "the socioeconomic structures and personal lifestyles" that have led to the current climate change crisis.
Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders, 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1993
In their 1990 statement, 32 globally renowned scientists appeal to the world religious community "to commit, in word and deed, and boldly as is required, to preserve the environment of the Earth."
Parliament of World Religions, 1993 and 1999
Commemorating the first Parliament in 1893, representatives of the world's religions gather and issue declarations on ethics regarding global issues, from environmental degradation to violations of human rights.
Summit on Religion and Environment, Windsor, England, 1995
Hosted by Prince Phillip, leaders of nine world religions, along with secular leaders, gather to discuss implementation plans for religion- based conservation projects. The conference results in the creation of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation.
Harvard conferences on Religions of the World and Ecology, 1996-98
Some 800 scholars from a broad range of religious traditions do research and outreach work on the religion/ecology connection. Nine volumes, each focusing on a different tradition, are published.The Forum on Religion and Ecology emerges to continue the work.
Religion, Science and Environment Symposia, 1994, 1997, 1999,2002
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew convenes a series of shipboard symposia focusing on regional water-related environmental issues. The symposia involve scientists, policy-makers, religious leaders, and journalists.
Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, August 2000
More than 1,000 religious leaders meet at the United Nations; environment is a major topic of discussion. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls for a new ethic of global stewardship.
Sacred Gifts for a Living Planet conference, Nepal, 2000
Organized by WWF and ARC, 11 major religions, representing 4.5 billion people, offered 26 conservation gifts to help improve the environment.
International Seminar on Religion, Culture, and Environment,Tehran, Iran, June 2001
Sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Islamic Republic, conference discusses the importance of fighting environmental degradation.The Seminar culminates in the signing of theTehran Declaration, which reaffirms commitments made at the Millennium World Peace Summit.