FaithInvest CEO Dr Lorna Gold took part in this COP28 event on December 5, 2023, organised by the Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative, on the importance of ensuring ethics are at the heart of the energy transition.

​​

Moderator: 

• Sonja Ohlsson, Director of the BK Meditation Centre in Copenhagen

​

Speakers:​

• Golo Pilz, Advisor on Renewable Energy, Brahma Kumaris

• Dr Lorna Gold, CEO of FaithInvest, the leading multifaith global organisation supporting faiths to invest in line with their values, and Chair of the Laudato Si’ Movement, the largest Catholic environmental movement in the world.

• Sister Jayanti, Admin Head of Brahma Kumaris

​​

​

This unique, high-level roundtable, organised by FaithInvest and Laudato Si' Movement, brought together leaders in the areas of science, faith and philanthropy in November 2023 to discuss how to scale up urgent action on the climate crisis. Timed to take place days before the start of COP28.

​​

Moderator: 

• Johannes van de Ven, Executive Director, Good Energies Foundation

​

Speakers:​

• Prof Johan Rockström, Director of the renowed Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, one of the world's leading research institutions looking at global environmental change

• Sr Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Vatican's Dicastery for Integral Human Development

• Dr Andrew Steer, President of the Bezos Earth Fund, established with $10bn – the largest philanthropic commitment ever to fight climate change and protect nature

• Huda Jaffer, Director of SELCO Foundation, which implements sustainable energy projects among Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities throughout India and Africa

• Dr Lorna Gold, CEO of FaithInvest, the leading multifaith global organisation supporting faiths to invest in line with their values, and Chair of the Laudato Si’ Movement, the largest Catholic environmental movement in the world

​​

​

Given the size of their influence, and the significance of their wisdom and experience, faiths are key stakeholders in helping to ensure a livable planet for all. FaithInvest's Lorna Gold and Catherine Devitt join the United Religions Initiative, in collaboration with the UNEP Faith for Earth Initiative, in this dialogue session at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), held from February to March 2022. 

​​

Moderator: 

• Catherine Devitt, Programme Manager, FaithInvest

​

Speakers:​

• Iyad Abumoghli, Director, Faith for Earth at UNEP

• Daniel Eror, URI Global Trustee

• Dr Lorna Gold, FaithInvest CEO (formerly Director of Movement Building)

• Allen Ottaro, Executive Director, Catholicy Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa

• Lauren Van Ham, URI Climate Coordinator

​

UNEP's Faith for Earth initiative organised 25+ Faith Dialogue more 25+ dialogues over 12 days during the UN Environment Assembly's fifth session (UNEA 5.2). To learn more about them, and watch the videos,  visit the UNEP website. 

​​

​

Webinar offering practical advice on what is meant by faith-consistent investing (FCI); how you assess what kind of assets you have, and how you develop FCI policies. We hear about the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania's decision to set up its own bank and what difference that has made to its members, and how the divestment movement is prompting faith groups to re-evaluate how their assets are being used.. Part of FaithInvest's Faith Plans series of webinars. 

​

Moderator: Catherine Devitt, Programme Manager, FaithInvest

​

Speakers:

• Nana Francois, Director of Investment Solutions, FaithInvest 

• Bishop Dr Fredrick Shoo, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania

• James Buchanan, Bright Now Campaign Director, Operation Noah

​​

Download presentations​

1. Faith Plans programme overview – Catherine Devitt, Programme Manager, FaithInvest

2. From Values to Investment: An introduction to faith-consistent investing – Nana Francois

3. Watch the 10-minute video interview shown in the workshop with Bishop Dr Fredrick Shoo on the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania's decision to set up a bank

4. Workshop 2 common themes

​

If you’ve ever tried to promote an issue you care about, you’ve engaged in advocacy. Advocacy is about influencing attitudes, opinons and actions to bring about change – whether within your own faith group or in the wider community. What are effective ways of doing this? Part of the Faith Long-term Plans series of webinars. 

​

Moderator: Lorna Gold, FaithInvest CEO (formerly Director of Movement Building)

​

Speakers:

• Martin Palmer, FaithInvest

• Charles McNeill, Director of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative

• Gopal Patel, Director of Bhumi Global and vice chair of the UN's Multifaith Advisory Council

• Karine Baghdasaryan, Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation 

​​

Download presentations​

1. Faith Long-term Plans Introduction – Martin Palmer, FaithInvest

2. List of links to IRI's educational materials and videos – Charles MacNeill

3. Faith-based Advocacy at the UN – Gopal Patel

4. Changing Mindset: Advocacy at the Community Level – Karine Baghdasaryan

​

What are the practical steps and considerations involved in creating investment guidelines that align with your faith values and beliefs? Led by the FaithInvest team, with Dave Zellner, CIO of Wespath, which is the largest reporting faith-based pension fund in the USA, the webinar provides in depth training on aligning investment guidelines with faith values. This is part of the Faith Long-term Plans series of webinars.

​

Moderator: Nana Francois, FaithInvest Director of Membership 

​

Speakers:

• Dave Zellner, CIO, Wespath

• Mathew Jensen, Membership Engagement, FaithInvest

• Martin Palmer, FaithInvest CEO 

​​

Download presentations​

1. FaithInvest Guide to Policies and Guidelines  – Mathew Jensen, FaithInvest

​

Other resources/links to websites 

1. The Book of Discipline from the United Methodist Church (mentioned in the webinar) 

​

The world, despite all its problems, is still a beautiful place. How can faith groups celebrate this, either through existing festivals or new platforms? Our two speakers discuss celebration from an Orthodox Christian perspective and how a new annual day to celebrate the environment has taken off in Uganda over the past decade. This is part of the Faith Long-term Plans series of webinars.

​

Moderator: Martin Palmer, Founding President, FaithInvest

​

Speakers:

• Spirydoula Fotinis, Coordinator of Programs, Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 

• Hajjat Sebyala Aphwa, Director, Energising Solutions and initiator of Greening Fridays, Uganda

​​

Download presentations​

1. Celebration from an Orthodox Christian perspective – Spirydoula Fotinis

2. Greening Fridays – Hajjat Sebyala Aphwa

​

Other resources/links to websites 

1. Greening Fridays video on YouTube

​

Many faith teachings and traditions encourage us to live in harmony with the environment. Key thinkers discuss self-assessment, pilgrimage, tourism, family life, purchasing power and the art of simple living. This webinar is part of the Faith Long-term Plan series.  

​

Speakers:

• Husna Ahmad, CEO, Global One

• Ruth Valerio, Tearfund

• Stanley Baya, A Rocha Kenya

​​

Download presentations​

1.  Greening the Hajj - Dr Husna Ahmad, Global One

2. Owl for a Penny presentation and notes – Stanley Baya, A Rocha Kenya

​

Links to websites mentioned in the webinar 

1. ECCR's programme for people and churches connecting faith and finance: Money Makes Change

2. How big is your environmental footprint? WWF carbon footprint calculator 

3. Climate Stewards – also an environmental footprint calculator and carbon offset tool

4. UN Environment's website has lots of useful resources

5. Hazon Seal of Sustainability: a 12-month programme for Jewish communities

6. Book: L is for Lifestyle, by Ruth Valerio

7. Book: How to save your planet one object at a time by Tara Shine

8. EcoSikh: website mobilising the Sikh Community on climate change 

9. Tips for making a Green Hajj

​

Faith groups run a LOT of schools worldwide, including at least 50% of schools in the Global South. They also run all kinds of youth groups and other outreach activities. How can young people best be engaged on environmental issues, whether in formal education such as schools, or informal settings such as youth groups? This webinar is part of the Faith Long-term Plan series.  

 

Moderator: Alison Prout, Director, International Network for Conservation and Religion

​

Speakers:

• Mary Bellekom, Faith in Water, UK

• Barasa Wafula, Consultant in education and sustainable development, Kenya

• Anastasia Retno Pujiastuti, Pepulih, Indonesia

• Kamran Shezad, Eco Islam, UK

• Menstrual health and hygiene: short film by Faith in Water, UK

​

Download presentations​

1. Education is multi-layered – Mary Bellekom

2. Promoting values-based education – Barasa Wafula

3. Pepulih: working on WASH – Anastasia Retno Pujiastuti
    

Faiths own a LOT of buildings, not just places of worship but also schools, colleges, medical clinics, hospitals, pilgrim centres, community halls and more. How can these be managed in the most environmentally friendly way?

​

Moderator: Alison Prout, INCR

​

Speakers:

• Rev Susan Hendershot, Interfaith Power & Light

• Rev Dr Alfred Bailey, New Psalmist Baptist Church

• Peter Nitschke, Plastic Bank

​

Download presentations​

1. Interfaith Power & Light - Rev Susan Hendershot

2. Friends House - Alison Prout

3. New Psalmist Baptist Church - Rev Al Bailey

4. Plastic Bank - Peter Nitschke
    

The first in a series of webinars on FaithInvest's Faith Long-term Plan programme. Introducing the programme, its seven key areas, timescale, dissemination process and additional resources. 

​

Speakers: 

• Martin Palmer, Founding President, FaithInvest 

• Nana Francois, FaithInvest Director of Membership

• Alison Prout, Director, International Network for Conservation and Religion
   

In a passionately argued Opening Address at the Faith Pavilion, Monday December 4, 2023 – Finance Day at COP28 –  FaithInvest CEO Dr Lorna Gold challenged faith groups to increase their efforts to finance climate action as a matter of urgency – and moral responsibility.

​​

Speaker: ​

• Dr Lorna Gold, CEO of FaithInvest, the leading multifaith global organisation supporting faiths to invest in line with their values, and Chair of the Laudato Si’ Movement, the largest Catholic environmental movement in the world

​​

​

This full day event took a deep dive into the challenges of ensuring our finances and investments are rooted in the lived experience of the communities we seek to help. What is our role as faith investors and how can we work better together?​ Co-hosted by FaithInvest, UISG International Union Superiors General and Catholic Impact Investing Collaborative and held in collaboration with the Laudato SI' Action Platform and the Laudato Si' Movement.

​​

Facilitators: 

• Elizabeth Garlow, Senior Advisor, FaithInvest, and Director, CIIC

• Dr Lorna Gold, CEO, FaithInvest 

​

Keynote:

• Sr. Helen Alford, President of the Pontifical Academy for the Social Sciences 

 

Part One

Speakers:​

• Sr Maamalifar Poreku; Executive Co-Secretary, Commission of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, UISG 

• Lindlyn Moma, Director of Advocacy, Laudato Si’ Movement 

• Sr Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development

​

Part Two

Keynote: 

• Sr Helen Alford, President of the Pontifical Academy for the Social Sciences 

​

Speakers:

• Bryan Pini, President and Chief Investment Officer, Mercy Investment Services 

• Petra Vujakovic, Investment Manager, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

• Tommy Piemonte, Head of Sustainable Investment Research, Bank für Kirche und Caritas eG 

 

Recap & next steps:​​

• John Mundell, Director, Laudato Si Action Platform (LSAP) 

• Laudato Si’ Investor Resource Hub, Dr Lorna Gold, CEO, FaithInvest ​

• Faithful Finance Training, Mathew Jensen, CFA, Director of Programmes, FaithInvest 

• Partnerships to advance FCI Training, Elizabeth Garlow, FaithInvest and CIIC

• Sr Pat Murray, IBVM, Executive Secretary, UISG  

​

​

Well organised and mobilised, the religious sector could become one of the most effective forces to address the climate and environmental crises. FaithInvest CEO Martin Palmer joins the heads of leading religion and ecology NGOs to discuss the role of religion in relation to climate change and environmental conservation. This event was part of the Faith Dialogues organised as part of UNEA 5.2, held from February to March 2022.

​​

Moderator: 

• Rev Susan Hendershot, President, Interfaith Power & Light

​

Speakers:​

• Chantal Elkin, Head of WWF's Beliefs & Values Programme 

• Martin Palmer, FaithInvest 

• Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith

• Jakir Manela, CEO of Hazon and Pearlstone

• Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Founder and Director of The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development (ICSD)

• Sonam Yangchen, Programme Officer, WWF Bhutan Program

​

UNEP's Faith for Earth initiative organised 25+ Faith Dialogue more 25+ dialogues over 12 days during the UN Environment Assembly's fifth session (UNEA 5.2). To learn more about them, and watch the videos,  visit the UNEP website. 

​​

​

Good communication is critical to the success of all endeavours. Sharing your knowledge, experience and stories – through radio, television, newspapers, websites or social media – helps people understand what you are doing and why. This webinar on media and outreach heard three case studies of effective communication. Part of the Faith Long-term Plans series of webinars. 

​

Moderator: Susie Weldon, Director of Communications, FaithInvest

​

Speakers:

• Martin Palmer, FaithInvest

• Daniel Perell, Representative to the United Nations for the Baha'i International Community

• Dr Fachruddin Majeri Mangunjaya, Chairman of the Centre for Islamic Studies and lecturer at the Universitas Nasional (UNAS), Indonesia

• Reba Elliott, Director of Special Projects, Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM)

​​

Download presentations​

1. Faith Plans Introduction – Martin Palmer, FaithInvest

2. Communications overview – Susie Weldon 

3. The Fatwa Dissemination – Dr Fachruddin Majeri Mangunjaya

4. GCCM's approach to communications – Reba Elliott

​

Faith groups and many secular organisations recognise that the environmental crisis is also a spiritual issue. How, through mindfulness, compassion and care, rooted in centuries of experience, can faiths address this spiritual issue? This is part of the Faith Long-term Plans series of webinars. 

​

Moderator: Martin Palmer, Founding President, FaithInvest

​

Speakers:

• Darin Lamar Jones, Director of Operations, Center for Earth Ethics, US

• Dekila Chungyalpa, Director, Loka Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison, US

• Rev Dr Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, Coordinator of Ecology and Creation, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Vatican, Italy 

• Linda Wong, Deputy Secretary General, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, China  

​​

Download presentations​

1. Faith Long-term Plans Introduction – Martin Palmer, FaithInvest

2. Wisdom for Earth Care – Fr Joshtrom

3. Traditional and Faith-based Conservation – Linda Wong, CBCGDF

​

Together faith groups comprise a significant investment bloc on the global stock markets. How do they manage their financial assets and investments in line with their values? We hear of three different approaches taken by three faith groups – from divestment, to engaging their communities and to helping people improve their own economic wellbeing. This is part of the Faith Long-term Plans series of webinars.

​

Moderator: Nana Francois, FaithInvest Director of Membership 

​

Speakers:

• ​Martin Palmer, FaithInvest CEO (introduction to the Faith Long-term Plans)

• Suzanne Ismail, Head of Networking and Engagement for Quaker Peace & Social Witness, UK

• Nigel Savage, President and CEO of Hazon (who shared a pre-recorded video), US

• Dr Vinya Ariyatne, President of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka

​​

Download presentations​

1. Faith Long-term Plans: Introduction - Financial Assets – Martin Palmer/Nana Francois

2. Sarvadaya Approach to Economic Empowerment – Dr Vinya Ariyatne

​

How can faith groups increase their impact on the environment by working in partnership with others? We bring together experts to discuss their own experience of working in partnerships across social, economic, cultural and geographical settings. This webinar is part of the Faith Long-term Plan series.  

​

Moderator: Dr Lorna Gold, FaithInvest CEO (formerly Director of Movement Building)

 

Speakers:

• Chantal Elkin, Director, WWF's Beliefs and Values Programme

• Sarah Ferguson, Country Director, TRAFFIC Viet Nam

• Allan Ottaro, Executive Director, Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainbility in Africa

​​

Download presentations​

1. Faiths & Conservation Partnerships - Chantal Elkin, Director, WWF's Beliefs and Values Programme

2. Partnerships in Wildlife Conservation – Sarah Ferguson, TRAFFIC Viet Nam

3. Working with Partners – Allan Ottaro, CYNESA

​

Other resources/links to websites 

1. Guidelines for Interacting with Faith-based Communities - Society for Conservation Biology (SCB)

2. Society for Conservation Biology working group

3. Link to the SCB's YouTube film on Culture, Spirituality and Conservation

4. Link to UN Faith for Earth Initiative website

5. Link to the Chi Briefing Paper, TRAFFIC Vietnam

6. Change Wildlife Consumers website, with resources on social and behavioural change 

​

Globally faiths own around 8% of all habitable land on earth, and more than 5% of commercial forests. How can faith groups manage their land sustainably, focusing on on biodiversity. This webinar is part of the Faith Long-term Plan series.  

​

Speakers:

• Martin Palmer, Founding President, FaithInvest

• Chantal Elkin, Director of WWF's Beliefs and Values Programme 

• Ravneet Singh, EcoSikh, India

• Ani Tsering Youden, Buddhist Tekchokling Nunnery, Nepal

​​

Download presentations​

1. Focusing on nature - Chantal Elkin, WWF. To illustrate how some religious groups are protecting nature, Chantal outlined the 2009 Mongolian Buddhist Eight Year Plan, focussing on wildlife, forests, water and pollution, and the 2009 Cameroon Presbyterian Seven Year Plan that centres around the protection of forests, water, wetlands and wildlife.

2. Link to watch the Culture, Spirituality and Conservation film on YouTube

3. Link to watch EcoSikh's video on its Sacred Forests project

4. Khoryga Project – Ani Tsering Youden

5. 108 things you can do to help the environment

6. Link to the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration website mentioned in the webinar

7. Link to the Miyawaki method of growing micro forests, mentioned in the webinar 

8. Link to Celebration Earth films mentioned in the webinar

9. Case study on Hindu-Environment partnerships on greening pilgrimage in Indian protected areas

10. Resources on Islamic approaches to the protection of threatened species and habitats in Indonesia, in cooperation with WWF

11. Buddhist Animal Merit Release – a paper 

​

We explored the impact of shareholder advocacy integrating values into corporate actions, and how to take that further by implementing faith-consistent investing policies, with the chief executives of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and FaithInvest and FaithInvest Director of Movement Building Lorna Gold. And we have a video interview with Tim Macready on working with faiths on values-driven investing.

 

Moderator: Nana Francois, FaithInvest Director of Membership

​

Speakers:

• Josh Zinner, ICCR CEO

• Martin Palmer, Founding President, FaithInvest

• Dr Lorna Gold, FaithInvest CEO (formerly Director of Movement Building)

• Video interview of Tim Macready, Brightlight Chief Investment Officer

​

How different faith traditions can help rethink business in the light of the climate and biodiversity crises, and the UNDP's new Massive Open Online Course on Green Entrepreneurship. Speakers:

• Jayshree Balachander, Green Pilgrimage India

• Jamison Ervin, UNDP

• Dr Lorna Gold, FaithInvest

• John Mundell, Mundell Associates 

• Alison Prout, INCR

• Dr Jinfeng Zhou, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation​

​

Download presentations

1. Chinese Traditions and Green Entrepreneurship – Linda Wong and Dr Jinfeng Zhou

2. Hinduism and Green Entrepreneurship – Jayshree Balachander 

3. Laudato Si' and Green Entrepreneurship – Lorna Gold

4. Making Green Entrepreneurship work – John Mundell

5. UNDP's Green Entrepreneurship MOOC – Jamison Ervin