Faith for Earth Aims to Shape Global Environmental Policy

Faith for Earth Dialogue
Online
Monday, February 21 – Friday, March 4

The next few weeks could prove decisive for global environmental policymaking. The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly will be held online and in Nairobi, Kenya, from February 28 through March 2. Hosted by the UN Environment Programme, UNEA-5 will bring together representatives of the UN’s 193 Member States, businesses, civil society and other stakeholders “to agree on policies to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.”

How can faith-based organizations ensure that their voices are heard when global policymakers meet in Nairobi? 

To amplify the voices of faith-based organizations at UNEA-5, UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative has organized the Faith for Earth Dialogue, a set of more than 25 online panels and conversations from February 21 to March 4. The goal is to demonstrate “the power and potential of faith-based organizations and faith leaders in shaping the discussions at UNEA as well as engaging in policy dialogue with other stakeholders.”

“Equity needs to be at the front of every conversation during UNEA-5 if policymakers want to create meaningful action on  the climate crisis,” says Andrew Schwartz, director of sustainability and global affairs. “In this unprecedented moment, the Faith for Earth Dialogue is an important opportunity for the Center for Earth Ethics and other organizations to help shape global climate policy.”

CEE’s participation in the Faith for Earth Dialogue includes the following sessions (all times New York): 

  • On Monday, February 21, 9:30 a.m., at “Faith for Earth: A Call for Action.” CEE Advisory Board member Kusumita Pedersen, chair of the Interfaith Center of New York and a trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, is a panelist.
  • On Wednesday, February 23, 8 a.m., at “Working Group on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration.” Andrew Schwartz and Gopal Patel, a senior advisor, are panelists.
  • On Friday, February 25, 9:30 a.m., at “Faith, Values & Ethics in Environmental Governance.” Kusumita Pedersen and Mona Polacca, a senior fellow at CEE, are panelists.
  • On Wednesday, March 2, 8 a.m., at “Faith and Food: Nature Positive Solutions for a Flourishing World.” Andrew Schwartz organized and will lead the session. (Special registration link for this session only.)
  • On Friday, March 4, 8 a.m., at “Faiths Respond to Stockholm+50 & UNEP@50.” Gopal Patel is a panelist. Karenna Gore, CEE’s founder and executive director, will moderate the session.

The Faith for Earth Dialogue is open to all stakeholders. Register today at Faith for Earth Dialogue. 

NB. This post has been edited to correct the Faith for Food Dialogue start date, to include a new featured image, and to include a hyperlink to the 2 March “Faith and Food” session.