Our Sacred Commitment – Skálholt III 2021

A Strategic Approach Towards Realising the Faith for Earth Coalition

The Faith for Earth Initiative of UNEP has been gaining momentum for some years. At the Faith for Nature: Multi-Faith Action convened in Iceland from 5-8 October 2020, which used the historic Skálholt Cathedral in the South of Iceland as its global anchor, more than 450 participants committed themselves to support a global process to be led by UNEP for the establishment of a global Faith for Earth Coalition that delivers on the goals set forth in UNEP’s strategy for engaging with faith-based organizations.

The Faith for Nature achieved a global reach through online dialogues in five regions (Asia and Australia, Africa, Europe, North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean). High-level faith leaders, faith communities, academics, UN representatives, civil society organizations as well as government officials from Iceland, recognizing the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss & ecosystem degradation, and pollution – engaged in a global dialogue to discuss the creation of the Faith for Earth Coalition, Our Sacred Commitment, and strengthening faith-based action:

“The time has come for people of faith to work together for the planet given into our care. The proposed Faith for Earth Coalition has a vision – in partnership with UNEP – to enable faith groups to promote action and influence policy choices at the local, national, regional, and international levels. We encourage governments to come to an agreement at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly in 2021 to turn that vision into reality. We stand ready to join hands with UNEP to turn this ground-breaking vision into a model for others to emulate”.

Faith for Earth has been working on a Supporting Report focusing on the role of faith and environmental ethics in environmental governance and strengthening nature solutions. This Report will be an essential element for a draft resolution to be submitted by the Government of Iceland, as announced at UNEA 5.1 by the Minister of Resources and Environment in Iceland, in collaboration with other counties. Many steps must be taken in the coming weeks and a long string of consultations is planned to drum up visible support for a resolution.