Spotlights ~ Ep. 19, Susan Bratton, Baylor University
This episode of Spotlights features Susan Bratton, PhD, a Professor at Baylor University in the Department of Environmental Science. She talks about her work at the intersection of religion and environmental ethics, particularly in light of her exciting new book, Religion and the Environment: An Introduction, which provides a thorough and thoughtful introduction to the field. This new introductory text covers the religion-environment interface in pre- and post-industrial religious contexts, religious response to the impacts of contemporary industrialization, globalization, and urbanization, and examples of religious thought, leadership, policy formation, and grassroots activism relative to the environment. You can find more information about Dr. Bratton’s work here: https://www.baylor.edu/environmentals…For more information about the book, go here: https://www.routledge.com/Religion-an…

UNEP: Faith for Earth Initiative

Following a series of initiatives and conventions organized in partnership with faith-based organizations, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the Faith for Earth Initiative in November 2017. The goal of Faith for Earth is to strategically engage with faith-based organizations and partner with them to collectively achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and fulfill the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. Faith for Earth has three main goals: to inspire and empower faith organizations and their leaders to advocate for protecting the environment, to green faith-based organizations’ investments and assets to support the implementation of SDGs, and to provide them with knowledge and networks to enable their leaders to effectively communicate with decision-makers and the public. This initiative is directed by UNEP Principal Advisor, Iyad Abumoghli. On May 4, 2020 UNEP Faith for Earth announced a partnership with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology. Read announcement here.

See also:

UN Environment Vision on Engagement with Faith-Based Organizations

UN Environment Strategy on Engaging with Faith-Based Organizations

UN Environment Foresight Brief–Faith for Earth

Faith for Earth Dialogue United Nations Environment Assembly 4 Synthesis Paper

Please see our Faith for Earth page for further information and links to additional UNEP resources of interest.

Laudato Si’

On June 18, 2015, Pope Francis released the encyclical letter, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. In it the Pope proposes an integral approach to ecology, economics, and equity for the wellbeing of both people and the planet. The Pope’s encyclical is indicative of the increasing relevance and the planetary scope of religion and ecology, especially as it relates to ecojustice.

Please see our Laudato Si’ section for full information on the encyclical.

Go here to read the full text of the document on the Vatican site.

Please also see the Yale article on Pope Francis and the Encyclical and the full video of the Yale 2015 event: Pope Francis and the Environment: Why His New Climate Encyclical Matters.

Laudato Si’ Week 2020 was  celebrated May 16-24, 2020. There were many webinars for this event, including one by Mary Evelyn Tucker on the topic of “Eco-spirituality: Deepening our Communion with Creation.”

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is happy to announce a Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary Year from May 24, 2020 – May 24, 2021.

Parliament of the World’s Religions Climate Action Task Force

The Parliament of the World’s Religions, acting with the leadership of its Climate Action Task Force, seeks to encourage and enable collective and individual action to reduce and counter the adverse impacts of human-caused climate change.

Interfaith Rainforest Initiative

The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI) is an international, multi-faith alliance that works to bring moral urgency and faith-based leadership to global efforts to end tropical deforestation. They provide a platform for religious leaders to work hand-in-hand with indigenous peoples, governments, civil society organizations and businesses on actions that protect rainforests and safeguard the indigenous peoples that serve as their guardians.

To mark World Environment Day 2020, IRI launched an online “Resource Guide on Rainforest Protection for Religious Communities.”

In July 2020, IRI released an issue primer for religious leaders and faith communities titled “Forests and Pandemics: How Protecting Tropical Forests Can Prevent Coronaviruses and Other Emerging Diseases.”