Faith for Nature: Multi-Faith Action is a global event designed to lay the foundation for inter-faith collaboration for sustainable and regenerative development to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The concept and objectives of this conference will be in support of the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly to be held in February 2021 in Nairobi with the overall theme “ Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”. The Faith for Nature Conference will have the following objectives and outcomes:
A) Identify the relevance and way forward in mobilising values, ethics, spirituality and faith-based action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
B) Empower faith-based organisations in taking action for the Sustainable Development Goals and to cooperate for sustainable and regenerative development, with a view to endorsing the establishment of a global Faith for Earth Coalition. Religions for Peace Australia will be participating in this event, giving Report from the Asia and Australia Hub.
The conference will be opened by a global digital and a High-Level event on 5 October 2020. The opening will be followed-up by workshop discussions in hubs in the different regions of United Nations Environment Program on 5 and 6 October.
On 7 October the conclusions of the discussions in regions will be communicated to the global hub in Iceland which will integrate and consolidate the results both from a global and regional perspective. The findings of the overall discussions will be endorsed and communicated through a global High-Level event on 8 October.
Three themes
People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnerships
The participants are tasked with exploring three themes that will form the substantive basis for the objectives and outcomes of the Conference. Participants should bring out context specific information by exploring these themes as they appear in their respective regions.
A) The contribution of values, ethics and faith-based action as drivers for sustainable and regenerative development to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Topics include:
- The historical role of Faith Based Organisations and other faith actors in sustainable development, including the role of faith communities in practising nature-based solutions.
- How faith mobilises action and how the contribution of faith and Faith Based Organisations differentiates from the contribution of other actors such as government, civil society, and business.
- The relevance of values, ethics, faith-based action and faith actors for the 2030 Agenda.
B) Challenges for Faith Based Organisations in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Challenges in integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into the internal and external work of faith actors, especially their capacity to engage in environmental policy discussion with authorities at community, municipal, national, and international levels.
- Challenges in ensuring that faith-based action and science-based solutions are mutually supportive.
C) The way forward, regionally and globally, for Faith Based Organisations to work for the Sustainable Development Goals
- What processes and mechanisms are needed for Faith Based Organisations to make substantial contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals, both individually and collectively? Considering specifically the UNEP proposed Faith for Earth Coalition and its sustainability.
- How to facilitate the integration of religious and spiritual values to ensure inclusive green and transformative development and change in behaviours towards sustainability.
- How to link science and faith for regenerative and sustainable development to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals?
Religions for Peace Australia will be participating in this event, giving Report from the Asia and Australia Hub.
Faiths for Nature Website
Faiths for Nature Live Stream
Time zone conversion for events. (This is occurring in Iceland)
Download the Agenda for this Event (over three days)
