The Earth and all living things are as mutually dependent as bees and honey are.
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET
FAITH PLANS
The destruction of the natural environment – including the impact of climate change – is the biggest challenge to all life on earth. The world's major faiths are taking a lead by developing Faith Plans – long-term commitments looking at how they will manage their assets, investments, influence and resources to drive action on climate change, biodiversity and sustainable development over the next seven to ten years.
We invite all faith groups to join the programme.
This is already the biggest environmental initiative ever launched by the faiths. Dozens of faith groups have signed up to develop a Plan. The Plans will be launched later this year, ahead of the UN's COP 26 Climate Conference to be held in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
The Faith Plans are a response to the triple crises of climate change, ecological devastation and the impact of Covid-19 on national commitments around the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2020 initiative builds on the success of the original 2009 Faith Commitments programme, organised by FaithInvest's parent organisation, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC). This resulted in more than 60 plans that have profoundly shaped the faiths' response to key environmental issues over the last decade.
WHO ARE THE ORGANISERS?
The 2020 FaithPlans Programme is organised by FaithInvest and WWF. FaithInvest's main role will be to encourage faiths to include policies around faith-consistent investing in their Plans, as this is our main area of focus. WWF will provide expert advice and support on key environmental issues.
The programme involves all the major traditions, as well as key interfaith organisations. It also includes a coalition of secular organisations whose advice and assistance will ensure the Plans are workable and effective.
See below for how to join the programme, and for more information about the seven key areas and our webinar series over the next few months.
JOIN THE PROGRAMME
We invite all faith groups to develop a Faith Plan focusing on how they will use their assets, leadership and influence to address climate change and protect the planet. Signing up to join the programme is easy: just follow the three steps below.
MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
SEVEN KEY AREAS
The Plans cover seven key areas in which the world's religions can have a significant impact on environmental action through their resources and traditions.
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Faith-consistent use of assets – including their investments, purchasing power, buildings and land
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Education and young people – in both formal and informal settings
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Wisdom, including theology, liturgies and prayer
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Lifestyles, including traditions of simple living, pilgrimage
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Media and outreach, including influence, advocacy and guides
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Partnerships, eco-twinning and creating faith environment departments
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Celebration, including festivals and traditions
TIMELINE
The programme has four key steps:
September 2020
Announcement of the programme at the UN Biodiversity Summit in New York.
September 2020 to September 2021
Faith groups develop their Plans.
September/October 2021
Formal launch of the first round of Plans, ahead of the November COP 26 climate negotiations.
September 2021 to November 2021
Programme of advocacy, awareness raising and launch of the second round of Plans
SEEKING IDEAS AND INSPIRATION?
We're running a series of webinars looking at each of the Seven Key Areas, sharing experiences and expertise from groups from around the world. See the programme of webinars (below) and you can also also watch recordings of any webinars you have missed on our webinars page.
DOWNLOAD
For more information on the programme, including the Seven Key Areas, download the FaithPlans Guide.
ORGANISERS
The FaithPlans Programme is coordinated by FaithInvest and WWF's Beliefs and Values Programme.
WEBINAR SERIES
Our webinar series on the Faith Plans focuses on different aspects of the seven key areas. Check out our events page for more details or visit our webinar catch-up page to find recordings of the webinars you have missed.
WEBINAR TIMETABLE
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Tues 20 October 2020: How to Create Your Faith Plan, plus an overview of the programme.
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Thurs November 19: Assets – Construction and Buildings
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Thurs December 3: Education and Young People
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Wed January 13: Assets – Land & Forests, Water, Wildlife and Habitat Protection
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Tues January 19: Lifestyles
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Thurs February 4: Partnerships, Eco-twinning and new Environment Departments
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Tues February 23: Celebrations
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March 9: Assets - Financial Investments
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Thurs April 15: Wisdom
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Tues April 27: Media and Advocacy
2009 FAITH COMMITMENTS
The FaithPlans Programme builds on the success of the original Faith Commitments programme, organised by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation and launched in 2009 by HRH Prince Philip and the UN Secretary General HE Ban Ki-moon. It resulted in more than 60 plans which have profoundly shaped the faiths’ response to key environmental issues over the last decade.
Find out what the participating faith groups pledged during the 2009 programme. Click below for the Plans.
Helping the faiths engage with and inspire the investing world.
Helping the investing world navigate and support the faiths.