A Conversation with Religions for Peace and Dr. Iyad Abumoghli of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

1. How would you describe the work you and your office does?

Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an innovative approach for integrating faith and religious values into the normative work of UNEP. The initiative aims at strengthening faith communities’ actions on environmental issues, green faith-based investments and assets to contribute to financing sustainability and to bring the science-based evidence and religious teaching closer in providing a compelling, mutually supportive argument for an ethical approach to protecting the planet.

2. How does this work overlap with religion or religious actors? How and why do you partner with faith-based civil society actors?

Stakeholders are key players in UNEP’s governance system – they are engaged in decision-making during the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). While some faith-based organizations (FBOs) have been active on environmental issues, others were not effectively represented in UNEA as accredited organizations, something that has limited their ability to contribute to global environmental governance.

Environmental stewardship is the most common in almost all religious principles of different religions and traditional practices. Therefore, it is prudent to enhance and strengthen the interfaith collaboration on issues such as climate change, ecosystem restoration and sustainable lifestyles, among others. People see FBOs and faith leaders as trustworthy and highly networked as they operate at all levels reaching all corners of the world.

Religions, in most cases, determine how we eat, drink and how we should live on earth. This value-based system is very important in how we sustainably use our natural resources. In addition, religious institutions have great economic power and own assets and investments that are important to work not only on religious values, but also sustainability principles. The divestment movement we have been seeing by churches and Muslim councils, among others, is a demonstration of the power of religious institutions and their contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Appreciating their centuries-old work, UNEP is partnering with FBOs and faith leaders to foster environmental protection and responsible behavior towards the Earth’s resources.

3. Have you seen a specific value in partnering with faith-based actors in times of COVID-19?

Historically, during any local, regional or global crisis, the first responders are FBOs and religious leaders responding, not only to humanitarian needs, but helping societies to be resilient in such times. The nature of COVID-19 might have limited their role to assist on the ground due to restriction of movement, but their spiritual leadership has been necessary to continue practicing their faith traditions while also practicing physical distancing. UNEP has dedicated a webpage where we have been compiling great examples of FBOs actions around the world with the necessary guidelines.

However, UNEP sees highly important work with FBOs post COVID-19 as we start building back our societies in more sustainable ways. FBOs should strengthen their advocacy work refusing “business as usual” post crisis. FBOs will have an important role to sustain the environmental gains during the lockdown. More importantly, temples, churches, mosques, gurdwaras and all houses of worship should to start practicing environmental stewardship within their own institutions and transform into model sustainable institutions.

4. What do you find most inspiring (or most frustrating) about your work in and with religious actors?

Working with FBOs and faith leaders have always been inspiring and motivational. The amount of dedication religious leaders contribute to cherishing God’s creation is unmatchable. However, positioning essential scientific knowledge to work in tandem with traditional religious knowledge is occasionally challenging. The two sources of knowledge do not always align and some practices might not be in line with environmental sustainability. This is the challenging part of a global faith-environment movement.

5. Would you like to offer concluding remarks to share with our global, multi-religious movement?

We are seeing a tremendous increase in the involvement of religious actors on environmental work. While this is something we have been encouraging, what we must not lose sight of is that we need to ensure complementarity and reduce duplication. We need a space for every entity to deliver, but there is much that needs to be done that needs coordination and collaboration. This is why UNEP is establishing a global Faith for Earth Coalition to bring coherence and increase collaboration among faith players at all levels including eminent faith leaders, young leaders, executives of FBOs and between and among scientists and religious scholars.